Chapter 9

I got up in the morning rolling out from Daryl's arm and sitting on the edge of the bed. "You should come back to bed." He said opening his eyes.

"I have to go use the bathroom." I said turning around. I turned around to be met by his laughter, her eyebrows lifted with humor.

"What?" I asked.

"Oh its nothing." he said closing his eyes again. I don't think anything of it and went to the bathroom but as I passed the mirror something caught my eye. I moved all my hair to one side to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

"DARYL DIXON!" I yelled storming into the bedroom, he just turned towards me and chuckled. "What did you do to my neck?!" I said pointing to the new large swollen purplish-red hickey on my neck.

"I'd say that right there is just me marking what's mine."

"Marking? This is not marking, this looks like I was bitten by a walker! How am I supposed to walk around the camp with this?" I say with irritation, point at the dark swollen spot on my neck.

"My guess is just like you did before, what's different?" He asked innocently.

I just rolled my eyes and try to change the subject, "So what do you have planned for today? I hadn't heard anything about the hunters going out."

"Not sure, I was thinking 'bout meeting up with some of the other guys and see what they do on the days they don't go out."

"Yeah maybe you could make a few friends, you know, like you said you were going to do. That way I could, maybe, talk to more people than just you and the women here."

"I could do that, I guess." He said, not thrilled by the idea of my talking to the other men in the camp, not that I could blame him.

"Good, but first can we go get something to eat? I'm starved!" I asked giving him my puppy eyes.

"Yeah I guess. I didn't really want to sleep anymore anyways." He said getting up with a grumble.

We made our way to the mess hall seeing a few people going in at the same time, "I don't know if it's the baby or just knowing that we can have three meals everyday but I am always hungry, like always." I said as we walked to the short line.

"Travis has got quite the appetite huh?" He said giving me a slight shove.

We ate our food without anybody interrupting us. I look around the mess hall, there were a few people. Most were in small groups, no one at alone.

"Don't you think it would be kind of nice if we had some other people to sit with?" I said throwing out the idea.

"Whats wrong with just the two of us?" He defended.

"Well, nothin' is wrong with it." I pause looking around again, "It's just, we are the only ones that sit alone." I pointed out.

"Is this more of you trying to get me to make friends?"

"Maaaybe." I said shyly, looking down at my swelling belly.

"So you are trying to say you want a bunch of freaks around our table staring you down like a piece of meat the whole time we eat?" He asked back.

"You don't know that they are all creeps." I said.

"Yeah but you also don't know that they ain't'." He throws back.

"Well I guess we will never know if you don't talk to them."

"Fine, but first I'm walkin' you to the daycare. Now come on." He said, I could hear the irritation in his voice. He walked me all the way to the front door. I didn't see him leave until I was in the back of the building.

"Who was that?" Renee asked bouncing a baby in her arms.

"That was Daryl, my boyfriend." I said without even thinking about it.

"Oh, well, ain't you lucky!" She teased then returning to tending to the child.

"So you decided to stay after all?" Kayla said from behind me.

I jump and release a small scream, "Oh my goodness, I didn't know you were there. You scared the life out of me." I said putting my hand over my pounding heart.

"Sorry." She mumbled. "Anyway, what made you say yes?"

"What you said, you were right. This is the safest place for the bab. Besides, Daryl enjoys the hunts. I also have a feeling he will connect with a few guys which would be good too."

"Is he anything like them?" She asked.

"Do you mean by like them?" I insinuated the nature of the camp.

"Yeah, is he like that?"

"Nooo, not at all." I laughed nervously. She stared at me and didn't seemed convinced. "He doesn't look at women like that, heck, he doesn't even really look at me like that. He isn't like that, really."

"But you're pregnant, isn't that something?"

"Yeah, but this is not the same."

"Whatever." She said turning and walking away.

I picked up one of the babies, then it hit me how much. It reminded me of Judith and the prison. Everyone that we had lost there. Maggie, Rick, Glenn, the list went. With everything that had been happening, I had almost forgot about them. How could I do that to them? I knew they were all still alive, I could feel it in my heart. Then the thought came to me, what if they had run thru this town at one point? I hurried over to Renee.

"Um, I was wondering if there is any record taken with who comes and goes thru the camp, even if they were only here for a day?" I asked her.

She was quiet for a moment before speaking, "Yeah I think they do. You would have to talk to someone in charge though. I don't know where you would find them but I am sure they are here somewhere."

"Oh, that's great! Do you think it would be okay if I went to see if I could find them? Who would I ask about them?" I said putting the now sleeping child down in a crib.

"Go to the library, try and find Jessica. Remember the women who showed you around the first day, she would know."

"Oh, thank you so, so much! Is it alright if I go ask her now? I will come back as soon as I can."

"Of course dear! All the children are almost asleep anyways, but don't be too long."

I quietly went out the door, then remembered how Daryl said not to leave unless I was with him. But this was different right? This was to possibly find family. He couldn't be mad at me for that. I looked around, only seeing a few men out. I suddenly felt unsafe and regretted going out here. Think Beth, think. Where was the library. I thought for a moment, before it came to me. I quickly started that way, looking down, avoiding eye contact. It seemed like one of the men had taken a few steps my way. I hold my breath until he stopped. I was only imagining it. I went to the library and right away saw Jessica.

"Hi, I'm Beth. I'm not sure if you remember me but I was told that you where the person to take to about who keeps records of all the groups that have come through here. I was wondering if, maybe, I could look at them." I said hopefully.

"Of course, I remember you! Its not everyday you see a couple like you and your boyfriend come through here, and with a pregnancy. About the records, just give me a second and I can go get them." She said walking to the back of one of the shelves. She came back with two simple notebooks. "Because of these being the only things we have about these people you have to keep them here but it's not like there are that many to go through." She said handing the small stack to me.

"Thank you so much." I said nodding.

I walk over to the nearest set of chairs, sitting down and starting on the front page. As I went through each page, I noticed how each woman had a description next to there name, but there was hardly any information about the men. I guess that was obvious why. It didn't seem like I was going to come up with anything when something caught my eye.

Young Male: Korean; Young Woman: White, Short Dark Hair, Pretty; Older Man: Red Hair; Second Older Man: Black Mullet; Young Women: Mid-Long Hair, Hot, Shorts and Half Cut Shirt.

The first two could be Glenn and Maggie and maybe they met up with somebody else.

It was clear that men were reasonable for writing this, using on a one word description for men and descriptive words like "pretty" and "hot" for the women.

"Excuses me, but how come there ain't any names for some of these?" I asked Jessica.

"Sometimes, people come in and only intend on staying a night or even just pass through without giving any information at all, we don't force it out of them." She said.

"Oh, okay. Is there any chance you may know who these people were, like, what they looked like more than just hot or Korean?" I asked pointing to the part I thought could possibly be them.

"No, sorry sweetheart, without knowing the dates they came through, there is no telling how long ago these were written." She said.

"Well thank you anyways." I said handing back the books before getting up to leave.

With no trace here, I was starting to lose the little bit of hope I had of finding them. Once outside and seeing that there was a few more people than last time but if I made it back fast enough Daryl would never know I was out without him. I walked fast, keeping my eyes down like I had before, when I walked right into someone.

"Oh my, I am so sorry! I didn't see you I was just thinking about something else, I'm sorry." I quickly spilled out as fast as I could, I tried to walk around him but he stepped in my way.

"You're fine sweet cheeks, you're real fine." The man said with a wink, it was then I noticed it was Luke.

"Oh Luke, it's you. I didn't noticed you at first, you look… different." I said again trying to step around him but he blocked my way.

"Different huh? I'll take that as a good thing. Where's that old creep you're normally with?" He asked referring to Daryl.

"You mean my boyfriend? I'm not sure, I have been at the daycare the whole day. I haven't seen him since this morning." I told him.

"Well that's a shame he's not here now. How's about you tell me some stuff about yourself. You know, like how did you end up with the grandpa?" He asked taking a step closer to me.

"He isn't even that much older then me. I don't know why people keep thinking this. And there isn't much to tell really, but I really should be getting back to the daycare." I said taking a step away from him.

"I gonna take a guess here and say that we are a whole lot closer in age than you and Daryl, so how's about we have a go at it. It will be a lot more fun than it is with the old guy, I promise you that." He said with a wink and stepping even closer.

I had a feeling I was running out of room to back up. Every time I took a step, he took one. Suddenly, I remember the hickey and moved my hair to one side of my face, trying not to make it subtle so he will take the hint. Please, please work I prayed. His eyes went to my neck and he looked surprised but not much.

"So that's the old man's attempt to claim his property? He is going to have to do a lot better than leaving a pathetic mark on your neck to keep me away."

"Property? I'm nobody property." I said angrily. "And if you don't think that this is enough to keep pervs like you away, I guess I'll break the news to you that I'm pregnant." I said hoping that would do something.

"What is that meant to scare me away? That only assures that I don't have to worry about knocking you up myself, and as for the name calling I'll have you know its not helping you any." He said taking another step, only this time when I stepped I hit something. Thinking it was the wall I felt screwed and had no idea what I was going to do. Luke looked up past me with a look of fear in his face. My imagination wonders to what could be making him so afraid, I fear turning to see. Then the voice said something, the voice I had learned to love.

"Funny, you have a lot of nerve when you're are talking to my little lady, let's see how much nerve you have talking to me like that." Daryl said pushing me behind him, I could tell he was beyond pissed.

"Hey, hey, no hard feelings. It's just around here we kind of have a thing for sharing. You know just a little something we do, being that we don't have the amount of women we would like." He said defending himself like it was his right.

"Sorry buddy but kind of hard not to get offended when you were insulted me and my women." He said tensing up.

"Come on man, I didn't say anything to offend her." He said pulling his hands up in a innocent way.

"That again little man is where you're wrong. I don't know in what world that a beautiful women would ever even think about sleeping with a little shit like you." Daryl said back to him. Luke laughed nervously looking around for help,.

"How about we just go our own ways, and just forget this ever happened. Alright? I understand my mistake now and it wont happen again." Luke suggested, but I knew Daryl and he wasn't going to let him off that easy. But I couldn't live with myself if I knew that he got hurt over nothing.

"Daryl, come on, just leave it alone. Nobody got hurt." I said trying to get him to let his guard down, he thought about what I said for a second and I could see the hope in Luke's eyes that he wasn't going to get the shit beat out of him today.

"Now, you see I have a problem. Here I could do what Beth says and go the easy on ya, but the difference between Beth and I is that she always seems to somehow see the good in little good for nothing shitfaces like you, and I can't seem to get past the first layer of your bullshit." Daryl said and all the color had drained from Luke's face. "Also one more thing, what kind of old man would I be if I didn't stand up for my women, my pregnant woman."

That was the last thing he said before raising his fist and punching Luke right in the face. I closed my eyes, I hated violence didn't want to watch. I heard Luke cry in pain and Daryl grabbed my wrist and pulled me passed him. I looked back seeing Luke holding the left side of his face and there was no doubt in my mind that he was going to have a black eye tomorrow.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING OUT HERE!" Daryl yelled dragging me to an area with less people around. Now that people were noticing what had just happened.

"Well I thought maybe I could check the records and see if anybody that we knew come through here. I only made a quick trip to the library and on the way back I ran into Luke." I told him as he was still pulling me. He came to a stop and turned to look at me, it wasn't until now that I had seen how mad he really was.

"I thought I told you that you can't go anywhere unless I was with you! Wasn't that the agreement for staying, wasn't it?" He yelled so close to my face I could feel his hot breath on my cheeks.

"Yeah." I said quietly.

"Then why the fuck did you leave? I went over to the daycare to get you thinking you were hungry and come to find out that you left. What the fuck Beth? What would have happened if I didn't come right when I did? What would he have done to you? What if I was out on a hunt and wasn't going to be back for hours? God knows none of the other men would have stopped him. No, in their eyes he was just in the mind set of sharing and that all fucking fine!" He yelled at me but it seemed like to me he was just overreaching. I understand what could have just happened but that was no reason for him to blow up in my face like this.

"I am sorry, okay? I just have some kind of hope that maybe I could find some kind of trace that our family had passed through here. Some sign that we weren't the only ones alive from the prison." After I said that he soften up but he was still raging mad.

"We are leaving." He said flatly pulling me along.

"What? What do you mean leaving? Daryl, this was a one time thing, I promise, it wont happen again. We can't leave for the safety of the baby." I begged him.

"And what's more important at the moment right now Beth? The safety of the baby or the safety of you? I'm going to just take a stab in the dark here but I'm thinking that right now your life is a little bit more important being that you are carrying that baby!" He said making his point. I didn't want to accept but he was right.

"This can't all be about what just happen. It's too big of a decision to make on one mistake. Why the sudden urge to leave." I said looking down.

"Well I tried taking your advice. When I come to find that not only is every asshole in this place just as scummy as the next but they have been talking shit about you since we got here. People calling dips, some even had the nerve to come up to me and tell me what they had been planning on doing with you, and that was enough to make me have a sudden urge to get the hell out of this place. I don't care how much you try to tell me but this place will never be safe for you, and I'm not about to sit around and watch this happen right before my eyes. We are leaving, tonight." He said. I processed all of this trying to make sense of it but knowing that was no use.

"Fine, we leave but not until tomorrow. I'm not going out without a goodnights rest and at least a full days worth of sun." I told him.

The rest of the day was a blur. We had our talking and I just trying to keep my eyes down the whole time, knowing what all of these men thought of me. When nightfall had came, Daryl still wasn't himself, he was acting a lot like the day we left the house. I suppose he was just getting ready for what was to come. After dinner we went to our room, as we walked by the lady in the main office Daryl mumbled to her to keep quiet but that we were leaving in the morning and had no need for the house they were going to give us. She only nodded her head and didn't say anything. When we got to the room Daryl was just as quiet as he had been all night. I sat on the bed after changing and grabbed the pregnancy book that I had kept with me in my backpack. I read through the pages that I had read so many times before reading the same stuff over and over again. I wrote down in my notebook that we were leaving the man whore camp at about 5 months, or what was my guess. It was a rough estimate but the days had been starting to blend together.

"So did you find anything in the records?" Daryl finally asked.

"Not really, they had descriptions but no names. I did see one that could have been Glenn and Maggie but they had three other people with them that I didn't recognized so I don't know."

"Im sorry." He said giving me a kiss on the forehead. As we got ready for bed. As we fell asleep, I thought of this safety and how much longer until we were going to find it again. I couldn't help but worry for the baby and Daryl being that he now had the stress of keeping us both safe out in the real world. I had finally fell asleep knowing this wasn't going to be any peaceful sleep by any means.

A/N (Edited). sorry for the late update family emergency came up and pushed back the writing, hope to do more later this week.