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After Daryl took over the garage as sole owner he was proud to realize he had actually accomplished something that no one in his family had. He felt like he could be successful for the first time in his life at something. "Could be" being the right choice of words though, because Daryl knew that he had harder work in front of him than he ever had before. He had been working later and later it seemed in the evenings. It didn't bother him, though, as he found he had little to do in his tiny apartment at night besides watch crappy tv and eat crappy food.

One particularly late Wednesday night Daryl found he just couldn't bear going home to another frozen dinner, nor were his usual take out places appealing to him. For a moment he even considered finding an all-night grocery story and trying his luck at cooking something. He was just about to turn onto the highway to find one when he saw ahead the lights of a diner that was still open. Too tired to make any more decisions tonight, he drove into the lot and entered the almost empty diner.

He recognized her instantly. After that day of the sandwich lunch Daryl had thought about her often and wondered if she would ever need to come back into his shop. They had left on a see ya later kind of note and although Daryl knew he had her number in his garage files he didn't have it in him to use it for personal reasons. He reasoned with himself that she wouldn't want to talk to him anyway, and besides he didn't really have the time.

Beth sat perched at the counter reading a text book. She looked up when he came in and smiled warmly. "Hey Mr. Dixon"

"Hey" his voice was soft and truly surprised. There was silence for a moment and then Daryl cleared his throat "just workin late thought I'd grab something to eat before I made my way home".

Beth looked at her watch. "You sure are workin late Mr. Dixon. Go have a seat. We're open for only another half an hour and the cook has already gone home but I can heat you up something if you like."

"Oh, I didn't know you were closin'—no mind, I'll jes go" he started to slip away when Beth grabbed his arm.

"Now is that what I said, Daryl? Sit down and I'll get you something. We just can't do the whole menu right now, but we do have some great chili and there's pie….." she smiled at him and gently pushed him toward a table.

"Pushy" he muttered as Beth raised one eyebrow at him. But he sat down anyway.

A bowl of chili and 2 pieces of pie later Daryl was sitting quietly watching Beth as she began the process of sweeping up and getting ready to close the diner. He was trying to figure her out. He had never met anyone like her. She chatted away about the diner and about school for a few minutes before she had to get back to her cleaning. The place was bright and clean and so much more appealing to be in than his crummy little apartment. Amazingly to him the company too appealed to him, which was strange because she was so different from anyone else he had ever been drawn to. Shaking his head to clear it Daryl got up to use the restroom before heading out, amazed at the time when he looked up at the clock by the door.

As he re-entered the main restaurant he heard Beth speaking in a strained voice. "Well we're just closing up now, but I'm sure you can find a drive through if you go on down the road a ways."

"Aww come on darlin, I'm sure you can find something for me" a man in an orange ski jacket and work boots was standing a bit too close to Beth. Daryl watched as she backed away slightly so he was out of her space.

"Nah, sorry, cook's gone-we're closing up" she took another step back.

The man half snarled half grinned at her moving forward again, this time grabbing her arm "So you're alone…that changes my order then….."he roughly pulled Beth toward him. She let out a squeaking sound.

"She ain't alone" Daryl growled and took two giant steps forward grabbing the guy by the back of the shirt. He shoved him hard against the counter as Beth stepped away, rubbing at her arm. "You like it rough there cowboy?" Daryl rammed his fist into the guy's gut who doubled over in pain. Before the guy could even react Daryl had dragged him over to the doorway. "Get the fuck out, if I ever see your face in her again—if SHE ever tells me your face is in her again I'm gunna hunt you down sunshine." The man grunted, spat on the ground at Daryl's feet but he pushed his way out the door and back to his truck.

Beth hurried over to the door and turned the lock and leaned back against it staring at Daryl. "You okay?" he asked, his voice much softer now

"Yeah" she rubbed her arm again. Her hands were shaking though and Daryl could see her try to hide them in her pockets.

"Hey…hey—you okay?" he asked again as he led her over to a stool. She sat down, shaking more openly now. Beth only nodded.

"Thank you" she whispered looking up at him her blue eyes shining.

"That kind of thing happen before?"

She shook her head. "No, not like that. Sometimes they get a little handsy but not like that before. My sister told me though she didn't like these Wednesdays when I close up alone." Beth rubbed her hands up and down her arms.

"You always close alone on Wednesdays?" he frowned.

"Yeah, Charlie needs to leave early on Wednesdays. It's only a half an hour, normally not a problem. Thank you again Mr. Dixon. Helpin me out again of course, I guess I owe you some more sandwiches" she tried to smile.

Daryl huffed and pulled on her arm. "My name's Daryl. You closed now? Come on, get yer stuff and I'll make sure you get home okay".

"Oh it's okay. I'll jess get to my car and call Maggie. She always waits up for me. You driving me home will just send her into a whole nother tailspin about something. Daryl frowned again but he walked her to her car and waited in the lot as she drove away, waving at him. He lit a cigarette as he watched, lost in thought.

The next Wednesday Daryl sat in the diner the final hour before close, nursing a coffee, driving away only when Beth got in her car and was out of sight. It began a new routine in his life and changed a whole lot more things than that. His Wednesday night routine didn't alter for 2 years.

It was fitting and fate that their baby girl was born on a Wednesday.

Daryl squinted his eyes as he drove down the dark overgrown road that led to his brother's cabin. They had been driving for over 5 hours and Beth's tears had quieted some. She held baby Katie close to her and fed her as they drove and that seemed to sooth both mother and baby some.

Daryl bit at his thumb nail as he drove, his mind racing, his eyes staying 12 steps ahead of them on the road. Once they had managed to leave the city—after 2 hours of crawling along in traffic and weaving around on dark side streets—they had not seen many other cars. The city had been loud and bright full of sirens and screams but they had only seen a few more of the creature things. One group of 5 or 6 of them aimlessly walking on the side of the road that they were able to drive past fairly quickly and easily. Another group of the creatures was about the same size swarming a car that had stopped at the side of the road. Beth buried her face in the Baby's neck when they went by that one, and Daryl just stared ahead, speeding past as soon as he could.

Now, the night was eerily dark and quiet. It was well past 3 am and the cabin ahead of them was black in the darkness. They pulled up beside Merle's shed and Daryl turned off the engine. He and Beth peered at each other in silence across the dark front seat for a moment before Daryl finally moved.

"Lemme go first just in case. You stay with Bug in the car." He brushed the baby's head for a moment before Beth nodded at him and he swung his leg out the pick up's door.

"Merle!" he yelled "Merle, you there?" a light flicked on inside the cabin and a moment later the door opened.

"Darlina? That you? Baby Brother, ain't you a sight for sore eyes" Merle staggered out and wrapped an arm around Daryl's neck "Been at least 2 years ain't it little brother? Thought you didn't have any use for old Merle anymore" he shoved Daryl a little too hard in greeting.

Daryl couldn't help but to grab Merle's shoulder back. Regardless of some of the history behind them they were still and would always be brothers. "Hey Merle. Been watching the news?"

"Yes I have little brother and I gotta tell you I am not surprised to see you here tonight. Almost placing bets with myself about when you were gonna show. Now I guess you see that ol'Merle's way of livin ain't so bad after all."

"It's real fuckin bad in the city, Merle. I ain't seen anything like it—it's bad Merle." Daryl grabbed his brother's arm and made him look him right in the eyes. He wanted to know if Merle was sober enough to understand the severity of the situation. Merle stared at him but then his attention was drawn away to a noise behind Daryl.

Beth had quietly slipped out of the truck. Merle peered at her and then chuckled "Well hi there Peaches. Looks like Daryl's been holdin out on me now…" Merle swaggered and turned to look back at Daryl "Brought some sweet little tail along I see. Brought some to share I hope?"

Daryl snarled but before he could reply to his brother a tiny cry interrupted them. Instinctively Beth looked down and unzipped part of her jacket to allow sooth the baby. Katie's downy head shone in the light of the cabin doorway.

Merle took a step back staring. "Holy shit little Brother, what the fuck did you do?"