Chapter Nine

A/N: Hello My Loves, I fear I am coming down with a bit of a bug of sorts. My mind is turning into mush. I will be working on Chapter 10 tonight and it may or may not make it on here tonight. Just wanted you all to know I love ya and will surely feel better come tomorrow.

The next morning was peaceful enough, the ladies of the group had spent most of the night gabbing and gushing over Beth's announcement and now were sprawled out in the living room fast asleep. Daryl sat outside on the porch looking out at the nothing in particular when a sound behind him snapped him out of his daze. Maggie stepped out onto the porch with a little yawn and quickly wrapped her blanket around her shoulders. "Morning." She stated sleepily.

Daryl nodded and offered her a seat beside him, which she smiled and accepted. A few moments of silence passed before Daryl sighed. "I didn't plan any of this."

Maggie smiled. "Who does?" She let out a slow sigh. "I'm really sorry I reacted the way I did last night. It's just..."

Daryl held a hand up. "It's ok, I'm not sure if I would've been as kind if my little sister was pregnant by a guy like me either."

"A guy like you?" Maggie said tilting her head.

"Well I ain't no saint Maggie, we both know that. I've done some terrible things and hurt a lot of people for reasons I thought made sense..." Daryl started, then rubbed the back of his head. "I have never met someone as strong as Beth. She is the only thing that makes sense."

Maggie beamed and touched Daryl's arm. "I have to admit, I was upset...I think no matter what I'll always see her as just my baby sister and not the young lady she has turned into. But at the end of the day it's not up to me or anyone else here. You two have been through a lot and you both made it work. So, it will take some getting used to on my end, but I am happy...for both of you."

"Thanks, it means a lot." Daryl said. "Even though you shot me."

Maggie made a fake threatening face. "I can do it again."

Daryl gave her half a smirk just before a loud gunshot rang out, shattering the quiet morning. Daryl grabbed on to Maggie's arm, pushing her slightly behind him. They looked and listened for any clue of where or who that shot came from. The others in the group ran out on the porch ready for whatever.

"Where did it come from?" Rick demanded.

"It sounded like it came from the next field over..." Maggie explained before she realized Beth was no where to be seen. "Where's Beth?"

Daryl's heart sank as he looked around for his beloved. "Beth?!" He called running inside the cabin. He tore up the stairs to the loft and found no sign of her. "Beth!" He yelled again.

"Daryl?" A sleepy voice came from down the stairs. Daryl looked over the ledge at a exhausted Beth walking out of the kitchen. "What's going on?" She asked just before a figure emerged from the kitchen from behind her and grabbed her by the back of her hair. The mug she had been carrying fell out of her hands and shattered on the floor before she even let out a scream.

"Beth!" Daryl shouted. "Let her go!"

The man looked up at Daryl with a sly grin on his face. There was a strange scar in the center of his forehead in the shape of a "W" and his eyes flashed with a dark insanity Daryl hadn't seen in a human since his brother. "Not a chance lover boy." He hissed pulling a knife out and resting it below Beth's jaw. Everyone else having heard the commotion rushed in to find the dire scene unfolding. Rick pulled his gun out and pointed it at the man.

Beth cried out loudly as the man dug his knife against her throat a little farther, drawing a little drop of blood. "Try it again and mommy to be won't make it past her first trimester."

"What do you want?" Rick asked slowly.

"Drop the gun and we'll talk." The man growled.

Rick's jaw tightened but he did as the man asked, tossing his gun onto the nearby couch. "Let her go."

"I'm not stupid man, I know you're group is armed to the teeth. I think...the three of us will take a walk."

"You're not taking her anywhere!" Maggie roared stepping forward. Daryl took a step down the stairs and the man pushed the blade even hard into Beth's flesh causing her to scream. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I said stay back!" The man snapped. "Don't think I won't fucking slice her throat in half."

Rick gently grabbed Maggie's arm and pulled her back. "What makes you think we'll let you take her anywhere?"

"I don't think, I know." He smiled with his horrible yellow teeth. "Find away to get through the walls and you might see her again."

Before anyone could say or do anything, there came the sound of glass breaking before a deafening bang. Smoke filled the living room, aiding the man escape out the kitchen door from whence he came. Beth's screams faded away as everyone retreated out the front door. The back of the cabin was now engulfed in flames and Daryl was still inside.