Alrighty, here's the epilogue, and the official completion of By a Thread. Originally this was just going to be some fluff and smut, but I recently started actually developing the plot for the sequel. So instead, this will be a hint at the story to come, with a bit of fluff and smut thrown in.

While I'm at it I might as well tell you the sequel will be entitled Cobwebs. Until then, keep a look out for my new story, Triumphant Faith, where Beth and Daryl are dragonriders cause why the fuck not?

Episode Ten - Epilogue

The bruises had faded, the cast had been removed, and aside from a bit of pain in her wrist when it was raining there was little physical evidence remaining from that night in Philip's warehouse. She still had the urge to call him The Governor, though technically he'd been impeached. Titles were stripped, and now, as far as she knew, he was in jail awaiting trial. No bail had been posted, thank god.

She felt like the city was safer.

Sure there were still murders, she knew that better than just about anyone, but the monster pulling at threads had been chained and muzzled. Glenn had justice, Milton, Alice O'Brien, and every other person who had been killed for or by him.

Now, she felt free. Specifically, at the moment, free to drag Daryl to one of Lori's dinner parties. Lori had asked her to make sure her 'partner' showed up, and sounded pretty serious about it. Serious enough that Beth started to see why Daryl was just a little bit scared of the lady, she had an unsettling way of making her eyes go cold while chopping carrots with a very sharp knife.

"C'mon, you love the Grimes'," Beth said, dragging him up the walkway, "You have like three friends, and two of them are Rick and Lori!"

"Who's the third?" He asked, giving her a quick kiss before they got close enough for prying eyes to see.

"Me," she said, teasingly, kissing him back.

He chuckled, "Probably right." They broke apart, keeping a friendly distance as they reached the edge of the lights off the Grimes' porch, "Ain't Rick and Lori I got a problem with though," he muttered as they walked up the steps. She didn't think it was the other co-workers that would be at the party either. He liked Michonne and Martinez, was pretty friendly with Tyreese and Rosita.

It wasn't the other homicide detective that bothered him, or the prospect of seeing all of Lori's friends (almost all of whom he had dated once to great failure), but Shane. Every dinner Beth had ever come to had been exceedingly awkward the moment Daryl and Shane were forced to sit at the same table.

"There'll be plenty of other people keeping him busy," Beth assured him, just before they walked in the door, "I'm sure you won't have to deal with him."

"Uh-huh," Daryl muttered, opening the door for her, he didn't sound like he really believed her. The foyer was much warmer than it had been outside, now late September a distinct chill had set into the air. Daryl was helping her out of her coat, taking more time than necessary as he let his fingertips trace down her arms, when Lori popped her head in.

"There they are!" Lori grinned, "Was getting worried you wouldn't get Daryl to show up."

Daryl looked a bit bashful, "You know I don't like big parties."

"Well this one is important," Lori said, not offering any explanation, "Wine's in the dining room, food's in the kitchen." On that note she disappeared.

"You hungry?" Beth asked, looking up at Daryl. Suddenly her stomach growled, and he smiled, chest shaking with a soft, silent laugh.

"C'mon, Greene," he said, taking her by the shoulder, "Let's get some food in ya."

Lori had really outdone herself. The kitchen table was covered in everything from finger sandwiches and pound cake with whipped cream, to the cheesiest looking mac and cheese Beth had ever seen. She went for that first. Beyond the kitchen doors she could hear people laughing, but for Daryl's sake she ate in there with him, joking about the suspect that they'd had to chase down earlier that day.

Of all things the guy had managed to trip over a cat.

By the time she was eating her chocolate covered strawberries he seemed a good deal more comfortable. They'd also been left alone, they'd gotten there late, so maybe everyone had already eaten.

"You got a little somethin'," Daryl said, glancing down at her lips.

Blushing, Beth raised her hand to her mouth trying to wipe at it, "Shoot, where?"

"Right," he caught her chin between his fingers, "about here." He kissed her, soft and sweet, tongue flicking up over the chocolate on her lips. She would have rolled her eyes if it hadn't set the butterflies fluttering. Instead she just smiled into the kiss. Daryl, for all his surly silence and awkwardness, could be a flirt. A cheesy one at that. Sometimes it seemed like he was straight out of an eighties rom-com.

They almost didn't notice the voices coming closer, only catching on when the kitchen door opened, revealing two partners standing much, much closer than they had any reason to. Beth panicked as she recognized Rick's voice, and did the first thing that came to mind. Grabbing the mac and cheese from her plate, she shoved it into Daryl's chest.

"Daryl!" She scolded, "Gosh, you're such a mess!"

Behind them Rick laughed. "What'd he do now?"

"The silly dope went and spilled macaroni on himself," she said, keeping her cheesy hand behind her back. Rick smiled and shook his head, before handing Daryl a few paper towels.

"Try and keep it in your mouth next time, huh?" Rick patted him on the shoulder, before popping a few cheetos in his mouth and heading back out to the party.

"Really Daryl," Beth said, holding back a grin, "We need to get you a bib or something."

"You're on thin ice, girl," he grumbled. She was pretty sure some part of him was just as amused as she was. He just didn't want her to know that.

"Oh yeah?" She said, leaning back against the counter as he tried to get the cheese out of his black shirt, "So what would you do if I just...kinda…"

He looked up just in time to get whipped cream smeared from his cheek to his lips, and Beth just smiled at him as he raised an eyebrow. For a moment it was very still as Daryl glanced at her, then down towards her wrists. Beth bolted as he lunged, giggling when hands grabbed her by the hips and whipped her around.

His eyes were dark, and his grip firm, and for just a moment she remembered the party just on the other side of the door, but then he kissed her. Hand sliding up to her lower back as he pulled her closer, he licked at her lips, sucking and nibbling as they moved blindly back towards the wall.

"C'mon," he growled, voice low, pulling her into the pantry and pushing her up against the shelves. She couldn't catch her breath as he kissed her again, and she wrapped her arms around his neck to keep it like that. His lips wandered lower, trailing down her jaw, her neck. She struggled to keep the moans soft as he bit down in the crook of her neck.

Grinding her hips up against his she couldn't help but be a bit satisfied that she could feel him getting hard, even more so when he groaned her name, hands grabbing at her ass to keep her closer while his lips went back to her mouth.

The first time she and Daryl had fucked he'd been tentative, like he hardly knew what to do, and was even more worried that he'd hurt her. Of course back then she'd still been healing, but she didn't think he'd have been any less concerned if she'd been in full health. Now though? Now he'd gotten more comfortable, he'd also gotten more demanding.

She dropped a hand from his neck, feeling the hard lines of his bicep, as his hands started wander up her shirt. This, she thought, is much better than the party.

"Lori," Mary said, taking a sip of her wine, "I still don't see why you had to invite Daryl." Lori had known that putting her friends, and the one guy who had failed blind dates with them in some of the most horrendous ways possible, wouldn't go smoothly for everyone. It didn't mean she wasn't going to do it though, Daryl and Beth were some of her best friends, and she'd be damned if they weren't there for this.

"It's not like he's going to be paying any attention to you," Lori said, "He only really talks to people he likes." It took her a moment to realize that could've been offensive, she'd been really honest last time too. Rick had said it had been the most confidence shattering nine months of his life.

"Oh he doesn't like me? Like I gave him a reason to?" Mary had been one of the few who'd actually been interested in Daryl until she'd been forced to be alone with him for more than ten minutes. He'd gone from the mysterious brooding type, to sullen and bitter very very fast.

"He doesn't like anyone Mary," Lori said, "Don't feel too special."

Shit, there she went again.

Mary frowned, "I'm going to go use the ladies."

She was only alone for a second before Rick wrapped an arm around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder as he sucked cheeto dust from his other hand. She smiled, leaning back into his chest as she stretched her neck to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey you," she said. Things had been rough between them, but now...now they needed to make it work. She was going to try her hardest, and Rick had been trying too. It had been a good three months.

"Hey," Rick kissed her back, "You noticed anything weird about Beth and Daryl recently?"

Lori smiled easily, though inside she may as well have been screaming. What had those two idiots done?

"No, sweetie, why do you ask?" She knew she and Rick had promised to be more honest with each other, but this wasn't her secret to tell. It was Beth and Daryl's. She just happened to think it was the cutest secret on this earth.

"They seemed kinda...close in the kitchen," Rick said.

Lori laughed him off, "Of course they're close, they live together."

"No I mean like…" he glanced over at the closest group of guests who weren't paying attention, before lowering his voice, "Physically."

"Relax, Rick. You know Daryl, he's so awkward he couldn't get a girl if she was sleeping on his couch. Which this one is." She set down her water glass, "They're just friends. Now if you'll excuse me I'm craving strawberries."

"Here," Rick said, motioning for her to sit, "I'll get it."

"No," Lori said, kissing his cheek again, "I've got it. You can save the waiter gig for a couple months, alright?"

Rick smiled, and nodded.

"Why don't you go talk to Shane or something? He's looking awful broody off in the corner." Rick obliged, and the moment he was gone she was stalking off towards the kitchen. She didn't know what they were up to, but it wasn't going to happen under her roof. Not when it could get one of them fired...or honestly any other day. They had an apartment for that.

For a brief second she thought the kitchen was empty, two plates of food abandoned on the counter, but then she heard the moan. A moan that was most definitely Daryl.

Yanking open the pantry and flicking on the light she snapped, "And just what do you think you're doing?"

The two jumped apart, Beth pulling her shirt down as her face turned red. Lori decided not to ask what the white goo in Daryl's beard was, she really didn't want to know.

"Rick was asking me about you two a minute ago, so don't think you're shenanigans are going unnoticed," she said, pointing an accusatory finger as she ranted, "If you two want to fuck like bunnies then go for it," she looked at Daryl, "I'm actually happy for you, I was starting to think you'd die single. But don't you dare do it under my roof, and for the love of god don't do it where I keep my food."

"Yes ma'am," they both said quickly, not meeting her eye.

"Now go clean yourselves up, try not to look too trashy, and be out in the living room in five minutes. I'm making an announcement, and you're going to be there."

With that she turned off the light, shut the pantry door with them still inside, grabbed her strawberries, and headed back out to her party.

Daryl ran his hand down Beth's back one last time before they stepped out into the living room. He didn't think he'd be able to look Lori in the eyes for a couple days, but he could probably get away with avoiding her with this many people around. There were a lot of people, a lot that he recognized, a few that he wished he didn't.

Rick and Shane were talking off in the corner, and Daryl decided he'd avoid that part of the room. Between Shane being an ass, and Rick getting suspicious it would be best to give them space. So instead he stuck close to Beth as she started off towards their co-workers.

"Hey," Martinez grinned, "There they are!"

"Didn't think you'd get grumpy pants out of the house," Rosita said, winking at Beth. Daryl felt himself stiffen a bit, he didn't know how much, if any, the other detectives had caught on. He didn't think they'd snitch either. Still, it made him worried.

"Took some prodding," Beth said, elbowing him in the side. The others laughed, and he kind of felt like he was going to start sweating. This was why he didn't want to come to a party.

The conversation settled down for a while, and with it his nerves, until Michonne looked down at Beth.

"Hey," she said, pushing her hair aside, "What happened to your neck?"

Feeling her squirm underneath him when he bit her had been fun in the moment, but now he was regretting it. Beth's eyes got wide, trying to think of a reasonable lie, and Daryl was doing his best just to look innocent when he heard a horribly familiar voice behind them.

"Oh I bet I know what happened," Shane said, making a space for himself in the group, "You have a bit too much fun last night, Beth? Who's the lucky man?"

He didn't sound like he was trying to be mean or rude, his tone was light and joking. Everyone laughed, even Beth, perhaps out of relief that the first guess hadn't been Daryl. Still he could feel his fist curling, he didn't like Shane near her. Daryl knew all too well how he operated with women, and he knew how he flirted, and he didn't like the thought of him going after Beth.

He would've felt more worried if Shane didn't keep glancing at Lori while he made comments at Beth. No, scratch that, it still worried him, it just didn't make him jealous.

A wine glass rang and everyone quieted, turning towards the center of the room where Rick was helping Lori up onto the coffee table.

"Everyone!" Lori called out as Rick joined her, "We have an announcement."

"We, uh...we wanted to wait a while before we told anyone, just to be sure," Rick said, putting an arm around her waist, "but it's been three months so…"

Lori broke out into the biggest smile as she practically squealed, "I'm pregnant!" and the room broke into cheers. He felt a hand on his sleeve and looked down at Beth who seemed to be tearing up, he couldn't help but smile, god she was adorable.

"So," Beth began, taking another dish from Lori to dry, "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl yet?"

Lori laughed lightly, smiling, "No, no that won't be for another month or so." Beth was excited for Lori, incredibly excited. She'd always wanted a family herself, kids, and a house out in the country. Once upon a time she'd dreamed of that with Zach, though with his big city style it hadn't seemed realistic. She could see it happening with Daryl though, it would be a while, but they had time.

Maybe they'd even get the farm, it wasn't a horrible commute from there to Atlanta, and she knew that Maggie didn't want it.

"Is Rick excited?" Beth asked, knowing the answer. She'd seen the way he was smiling.

"Oh yeah, he's excited," Lori said, starting to scrub the pan she'd made brownies in, "He always wanted another kid...it just never was the right time after Carl. He got his new job with the APD, and he was always so busy, but...but I think this will be a good thing for us."

It was quiet for just a moment, and then Lori went on.

"So? How're things with you know who?"

Beth smiled, trying not to blush again, "Things are good."

"More than good, I'd say," Lori teased, handing her the pan, and Beth blushed harder. She'd known it was a bad idea to make out with Daryl now of all times, but...well...they were in the honeymoon phase as her mom called it. It was kind of hard to resist that sometimes. "Have you two…"

Beth looked down, and took a breath before saying, "Yes." She was trying very hard not to smile.

"Oh my god, where?" Lori asked, "Is he any good? I his...you know?"

"Pretty much everywhere, he's partial to the kitchen - I don't know why it's kind of weird, but I go with it -" she started, talking almost too fast to be understood, "I prefer the shower. He's very good, I'm small enough that we can fuck standing while he holds me, and he's average, but it's thick with a curve."

It was very quiet for a second, Lori's eyes got wide, Beth's blush deepened, and then they started laughing. Deep, your cheeks start burning, and your abs hurt afterwards, and you've got to bend over so you don't pee yourself laughter. Lori snorted and they started laughing even harder, Beth gripping the counter to keep from kneeling on the floor. They didn't even stop when the door opened.

"What y'all laughin' 'bout?" Daryl asked, and they both looked up suddenly, falling completely silent. Then, making eye contact with each other, they fell apart again. Tears were starting to stream from Beth's eyes, and she couldn't breath as she gave in and fell to the ground. She spared another glance at Daryl, who was shaking his head, and was hit with another fit of laughter.

Eventually Daryl grabbed whatever he'd come for and left, leaving the two women to laugh it out. Everything ached when she finally caught her breath, getting the last of her giggles out as she looked at Lori.

"It was good to finally say that," Beth said, still taking in deep breaths, "I'm glad you know...there are just some things you can't tell your sister."

Lori giggled, "I know, sweetie, I know."

Beth and Daryl had finally left, and Lori had a good idea she knew what they were planning on doing when they got home. Now she just had to clean up, and put Carl to bed. He had a big project he'd been putting off that he needed to finish tomorrow before school on Monday.

Sighing she wrapped the last of the mac and cheese in seran wrap, and put it in the fridge. They were going to be having left overs for the next few days, but with all the sweets she'd made she didn't think Carl would object. Though Rick might complain she was trying to get him pudgy.

She smiled, going to take the sodas off the table, when she paused. Shane must have forgotten his phone when he was getting food. Leaving the sodas she picked it up, and then it buzzed, a text message popping up on the screen.

She didn't mean to read it, but the first words weren't exactly something that could be ignored. Frowning she scanned over the sentences again, trying to figure out what context she was missing. It couldn't be what it sounded like.

"Lori," she jumped, "Lori, give me the phone."

She hadn't seen that look in Shane's eye before. Though now she was afraid that she hadn't read the text wrong.

"Lori," he growled, "Give me the phone."

They couldn't have gotten home fast enough, and she could feel Daryl pushing at the speed limit once or twice as she clung to his waist. She trusted him though, he was good on a bike, he wouldn't crash.

They were kissing in the elevator, and her shirt was half off by the time they fell through the door. The shirt was cast off to the floor, and has Daryl yanked at his own Beth's hand went to the crotch of his pants, he was already hardening. He groaned as he threw his shirt and grabbed her, crushing his lips back to hers as she kept rubbing against him.

He bra was off by the time they were in the hallway, and he paused to press her against the wall, grinding into her as his mouth found her breast - tongue swirling around her nipple. She moaned, running a hand through his hair as she pushed back into the wall, rolling her head back and closing her eyes. His dick kept shoving against her clit, and she could feel herself getting wetter.

She needed to get rid of their pants. Soon.

Pushing against him she flipped so that he was against the wall as he moved up to bite at the spot he'd already marked once. She moaned into his mouth, tongue running along his as she went for the button on his pants.

He pulled back a bit, laughing softly as he moved to kiss down her jaw, "Ya sure know what you want, don't ya?" He asked between kisses, finishing by sucking on her sweet spot. She moaned as he grabbed her ass, large hands running down to her thighs as he lifted her up, the hard bulge rubbing just right as he carried her towards the bedroom.

He tossed her down on the bed, pulling down his pants as she wiggled out of hers. She was regretting the skinny jeans, "Damn it," she muttered, lifting her hips up high to get them over her ass.

"Can't say I mind the view," Daryl teased, and she rolled her eyes at him, as he crawled up onto the bed. His fingers traced down from her panties and along the curve of her ass, before finally hooking into the waistband of her jeans, helping her out of them. He pulled at her panties next, and she could feel herself throbbing in anticipation, the walls of her vagina contracting as he took his sweet time.

"You're a tease," she mumbled, wriggling as he placed light kisses up the inside of her thigh.

He just laughed, before running his nose from the top of her pussy down till his lips were level with her clit, and then stopped. She was doing her best not to squirm as she felt his cool breath against her, and she thought she was going to die.

And then he was on her, sucking, tracing his tongue in circles as one arm hooked around her leg to pull her closer as two fingers found her entrance. She bucked her hips, moaning his name as he only sucked harder. Just as her body started to stiffen, and she felt her mind going blank he pulled back.

Slowly he crawled over her, her heart was practically beating out of her chest, and she wondered how he could still do this to her after months. She could taste herself on his lips, as he kissed her. A hand ran down from breast, to her ribs, curving around her hip to her ass as he pulled her up and he ground down.

His boxers were completely tented, and she could feel the tip of his dick clearly as it pressed into her clit, teased at her entrance.

She couldn't take this anymore.

Pushing him off, she pulled at his boxers, and flipped him over. She ran her hands up and down the shaft, watching as his eyes closed and his chest rose with a deep breath. It wasn't long before she was straddling him, poised just over his cock. She went down slow, closing around just the tip before pulling back, and he opened his eyes to glare at her.

"See how that feels huh?" She grinned playfully, slowly pushing down just a little farther, and she felt herself contract around him. He groaned, and she laughed.

"You're on thin ice, girl," he growled as she pulled back again, and she giggled.

"Oh yeah? And what are you going to do to me?"

His eyes glinted, and she gasped as he grabbed her hips and pushed her down onto his cock. Rolling, he pinned her, starting to thrust at an agonizingly slow pace. Her hips twitched as he pushed in and out, lips just ghosting over her neck.

She could barely breath.

He drew back, and then thrusted hard, before slowly drawing out again. He thrusted, she gasped, "Faster."

"What was that?" He whispered, nibbling at her ear.

"Faster," she moaned as he tantalized her by drawing out as slowly as he could, she contracted around him and he moaned.

She felt him smile into her lips as kissed her, "Sorry, sweetheart, don't think I heard you."

"Faster, Daryl, please," she moaned, and he kissed her picking up the pace as the bed started to shake and her legs wrapped around his waist.

This was what she had meant by good. Her eyes rolled back as his dick hit her g-spot again, and again, and she stopped thinking about anything else. It was just her, and the man she loved.

He came just before she did, the two of them breathing hard as he rolled off of her and she cuddled into his chest.

It took a moment to hit her.

Wait...love? She blinked hard, suddenly looking up at him with panic in her eyes. His were closed, a slight smile on his face...he looked so cute. Oh god...oh god she loved Daryl Dixon.

Now what?

Philip O'Brien didn't mind his cell. It was quiet, it gave him time to think.

Sitting on his bed and staring at the wall he couldn't help but wonder what would happen now that he was gone. He had spent a long time working towards his goal, carefully weaving thread by thread the world he was trying to create.

His web was empty now, collecting dust in some high corner. However, a cobweb was no less dangerous. Just because the spider was dead, didn't mean a fly couldn't be caught in his cast of threads.

Only that he would die much, much slower.