Hugs could never last long enough for Maggie. In her sisters arms, in her embrace the world stopped still on its axis, there was no time, no wind, no rain. Her mind was at peace. She felt her sisters fragile body press in, soft and warm. This was what she'd waited for, prayed for; she inwardly thanked God and hugged all the tighter. This moment was to be cherished, finally, she was home.

"I love you Bethy.." she sobbed, wrapping her arms tighter not wanting to let go for fear she'd slip away, fade into the smoke and fly away in the breeze.

Maggie couldn't tear her eyes away from her younger sister as they entered her home, the rain had soaked through both of them, the others had gone to clear up the devastation of the day's events, leaving them together. The more Maggie would stare the stronger the urge to crush her sister in another cuddle would become. She felt the warm pressure of their fingers fuse together, almost like they were anchoring each other in the moment. To Maggie's eyes Beth looked stronger than before, something different swam in the blue ponds of her eyes, it was the light she'd seen in everyone around her, out there; the look of fighting hard, for life.

Beth's face was covered in soot and dirt and her leg was coated in clotted blood. Pete would definitely need to take a look at that, but for now she felt content to have her just here.

"Come on Bethy, let's get you cleaned up.." Maggie urged

That's when Beth tensed in her arms, wriggling out of her embrace and backwards to stand awkwardly against the kitchen counter. She looked so fragile, the light in her eyes had disappeared replaced with fear. It made Maggie's heart sink a little watching the sister she'd so desperately wanted back, here but not here. It was natural to be overwhelmed by this place, everyone had been the same when they'd arrived, everyone was still trying to get used to it, but Maggie had a feeling this was different. Something had happened out there, something made Beth twitchy like she was expecting a bomb to go off.

"Maggie, don't cry. I'm here now.. I love you too" She hadn't noticed the tears creep down until then, they continued to trail down as she felt her younger sister wrap her arms around her torso grasping tighter. She was alive.

The bathroom was lavish and brilliant white; the tub sat nestled into a corner bathed in the golden light of the dipping evening sun. She could barely remember what hot water felt like as she adjusted the temperature, flooding her bath with more scalding water. Her hair was clean now and smelt sweet, it made her stomach rumble and she was struck by the realization that she'd not eaten for maybe a few days, if the shaking in her hands was anything to go by. The shaking carried on as Beth stood in front of the bathroom mirror knees quaking, threatening to buckle at any minute. She'd started to cry; tears coming faster, catching in her throat making her choke on them, whether they were from relief of being finally safe or from the encroaching fear that threatened to take over if she let it all in.

Beth stood for a long minute staring into the mirror taking in her reflection; her hair damp and longer now than it was at the prison; she didn't recognise herself clean of dirt and blood. The white towel around her body dropped to the floor as she carefully dried herself off, wincing as it grazed the purple bruise on her lower back from hopping the wall. She jumped two foot at the lightest knock of the door. Her heart rate spiked as she scrambled for the towel, quickly covering herself in one swift motion.

"Beth. Are you okay in there? Bethy?" It took a few seconds of silence for her to realise who's voice it was, she was still getting used to hearing it again. It almost made her cry once more.

"I'll be a minute..." She mumbled, hoping Maggie would hear her quiet voice. Some small part of her knew that Maggie was scared. Even though it was a lifetime ago Beth knew that Maggie still followed her with her eyes every time she entered a bathroom, not glancing away until she'd returned unharmed. Beth didn't find herself resenting Maggie for it, she was being a concerned sister - after all that had happened, after all the fighting to get back here she'd missed the once unwelcome attention.

Pain suddenly grabbed her, the throbbing of her leg seemed to penetrate the silence. The bottom of it was splattered purple, fireworks of bruises flashed over her calf, making her grimace as she stepped closer to the mirror and the chair beside to pick up the clothes that Maggie had left for her. As she dressed her hands shook, this wasn't what she knew; this wasn't normality. At the prison it'd been easily to assimilate, they'd not been too far gone, nothing had happened...not like this. Beth knew she wasn't the same as she was back then; the side of her lip was purple bruised from his fist, it wasn't all shown in her appearance though but looking at herself made her shake.

Tears dripped freely against her top, darkening the burgundy. She sniffed, wiping the tears away, the air in her lungs rushed out in large huffs as she attempted to calm herself down knowing Maggie and Glen were waiting in the living room. Her family were waiting, but all she could do was cry again, not being able to tear her eyes away from the mottled W under her collar bone. She was branded, the mark forever reminding her of the hell she'd gone through.

"You're alive. You're strong." Beth spoke, reminding herself that she was alive, away from the clutches of the wolves.

But was she really?

After straightening out her shirt Beth decided that it was enough, she was strong, alive and finally safe. Time to act like it..

When Beth reappeared into the front room everyone had gone completely silent. They were all there, all the faces she'd been conjuring in her mind for so long; Rick looked completely different, shaven and the brooding lines in the forehead were gone, replaced with a warm smile.

"Beth.." he sighed, probably not quite believing that she was amongst them again. It's not like she could blame them, she was weak. Was..

Beth gave her own genuine smile and wrapped her arms around his torso for a few seconds before stepping away to greet Carl who had his own smile for her, one that she'd seen before. He was sweet on her still. Beth giggled a little, watching his features twist into a grin, his much longer hair hiding most of the blush that'd crept up on his cheeks. She laughed with Carl once more, it was an unfamiliar sound.

"We missed you! You look different.." he mused.

It made Beth wonder who this was in front of her, the small weed of a boy had gotten much taller even in the weeks she'd be absent from the group it seemed to Beth that he'd become an adult - taller than her by half a foot, his hair brushing the collar bone.

"I look different? Look at you.." She grinned, knowing it'd make him blush again and it rightly did, he looked beet red when she pulled him back to get a real look at the gangly teen.

"Alright..Cm'on.." Rick laughed, pulling Carl into a mock choke hold and out the door. Beth followed Rick's form outside, he was muttering quietly to someone out on the porch. Beth let out a yelp of surprise as her small form was taken in by Carol, beaming her mothering smile as usual.

She deeply respected this woman, something in her just screamed Mom but demanded respect all in the same breath.

"Oh Beth sweetheart." Carol smiled, all teeth. "You looked like an action hero running towards us! I'm so glad you're okay!" She beamed gripping Beth tighter before pulling her to look at her, mirroring what she'd done to Carl moments ago.

While Carol was studying her speaking about the safe zone, Beth was lost in the memory of early yesterday morning. She was on the ground, Owen's figure looming over her like the Reaper in her last moments; he'd sliced her leg Beth knew he was hoping for her artery so she'd let him believe it as she laid there, the ripping noise of the denim became hazy because of the blood loss but his voice was as clear as day.

"I'll say goodbye to your friends for you. I tell him what a good girl you were.."

"He's outside.." Carol spoke again, reading Beth's face even before she spoke, it threw her off wondering how she could read the almost imperceptible change in her features.

He was outside, after all this time, after everything he was just within her reach. But how was she going to talk to him? There was so much she wanted to say, even if she didn't know what this was, they needed to talk.

"Bethy.." Beth blinked and twisted her head from the doorway to see Maggie beaming at her from the sofa. Glen held her hand tight giving Beth the same giant smile. She'd imagined this, being back with them so much that this moment didn't seem real.

"Maggie.." She sighed, breathing the sight of them in.

"We want to tell you something.." Maggie paused, her beaming smile dropped at the edges quickly as she followed Beth's line of sight to the door

"Go talk to Daryl first but come back quick, okay?" Beth smiled warmly at her sister before slowly stepping towards the door opening it carefully as if to not spook the man sitting on the other side.

He didn't move or do much of anything at the clicking sound of the shutting door, nor did he speak as she sat beside him on the porch, her hands clasped together dancing nervously in her lap.

Daryl roots around in his pocket, his dexterous fingers find a cigarette and light it up quickly holding it between his lips before blowing the smoke out into the street. He hasn't lost that bad habit, Beth thinks silently as she breathes in the familiar smell of stale smoke. It's not an uncomfortable silence, just heavy, on her part anyway. The wordless calm is loaded with emotions; relief, happiness, anxiety and sorrow, they threaten to pour out of her split lips and tarnish the white wood of the porch steps. But she holds back, not knowing really what to say and she didn't trust herself to speak coherently right now anyway, so the silence carried on; the birds tweeting happily was the only sound.

In the few seconds before the silence was broken she found herself breathing him in, much like Maggie and Glen a moment before; the image she'd conjured in her head of him..them wasn't much different to the reality par the brooding tiredness creasing Daryl's forehead as he smoked. But everything else remained much the same, but she knew it wasn't.

"Hey.." Daryl grunted, making Beth jump slightly as he broke the stillness. He wasn't looking at her, his eyes hidden by hair just stared forward at the river in the middle of the town, looking over the people milling around Alexandria, not at her, nowhere close.

"Hi..." Beth breathed out, it was the first time she'd heard his voice since that day.. You're fine, you're strong. His words were laced with pain back then, from what she could remember.. it was quite a blur. She remembered the smash of the glass, the screech of the metal along the ground and the pained sound of walkers yearning for their flesh. Not much else after that..

It was getting darker as they sat together, their shadows stretching out ahead of them, the sky had cleared of smoke and it was smeared a rusty orange colour as the sun dipped over the trees. None of them had said anything and Beth started to wonder when Maggie would come out to take her inside.

"I..uh..are you okay.."

"Mmmn.." Daryl grunted over his cigarette he was looking at her now, it made her heart beat, a stark reminder that she was alive, this was real.

"You okay?" He wasn't like Beth thought he'd be after their reunion earlier in the day, she'd not thought, just acted on every instinct; her arms had held him tight, the same as his did, she knew in that moment that he'd missed her just as much. But right now it was like that never happened, he was different more like the Daryl she knew after the prison fall; stewing, brooding and stand offish. But his question didn't match his current demeanour, he really wanted to know if she was okay.

"...No.." Her walls were crumbling, everything that had happened since the accident had been hurtling at the castle she'd built around herself like spears from an incoming enemy. She'd been here less than a day, less than a day of safety and everything was crumbling. She'd tried so hard to hide it from Maggie, from Glen, from Carol but sitting here with him had changed something, the last spear had cracked the final stone in her fortress and sent it tumbling to the ground at her feet.

She must have made a sound because Beth spotted him in her murky peripheral vision, he was shuffling awkwardly but shuffling closer. His arm had crossed her shoulders to hug her clumsily. She'd be lying if she didn't feel relief, somewhere deep. She thought he'd tuck tail and run after finding her..

"I didn't think I'd see you again.." Beth sniffed, running shaking hands up her thighs to rest on her knees gripping them tight. Daryl turned to face her, looking her directly in the eyes.

"I'm sorry.." Sorry? What for? Why?

"You've got nothing to be sorry for, it's okay.." She breathed, a small smile crept up on her face as she took in his form.

There was so many things that'd happened before this, so many things that needed to be said but she didn't have the words so she settled for resting her head on his shoulder.

It made Beth chuckle for the first time since the prison;

"What's so funny.." The gruff tone of his voice vibrated through Beth from her position against his shoulder and she felt herself take a deep breath in.

"It's silly.." She sighed, giggling against him as he nudged her pushing her to carry on;

"This is the shoulder I popped back in" She looked up at him, he was lighting up a cigarette again but he was smiling around it.

"Mmhmm.."

"I'm really okay Daryl." Despite the tears, being taken, burned, injured and nearly killed in a car accident, despite everything Beth believed it. She was okay. The fight was over. All she had to do now was live...right?

You have to accept that you can't change the past experiences, they make you who you are. Whether that's strong, weak, mean or something else entirely.

Beth had gone walking this morning on an impulse, after fit-full night's sleep on an unfamiliar bed with Maggie and Glen next door getting up early seemed the only option.

Right now she stood in what looked like a church, peering confusedly over the child's drawings and strange pictures on the walls. It wasn't a church in the traditional sense, Maggie had told her that the inhabitants of Alexandria had turned a spare house into some resemblance of a Church. It smelt vaguely like incense and more solidly the smell of musty prayer books. The room was brightly lit with the glow of the morning, its white painted walls ran the whole west end of the church. Small foldable tan chairs littered the floor to form pews and another larger chair stood at the front of the room accompanied by a table, piled with slick black bibles. They were smooth as Beth ran her hand over them, not remembering the last time she'd entered a Church..it was before, that's all she knew.

"G-good Morning.." Beth jumped at the unfamiliar voice, turning round on her heel her knife raised on instinct. A man stood in the back doorway, on first glance he looked like he might cry. He was dressed in a white long sleeved t-shirt and black pants. She scanned him over again, looking for any signs of a threat - when she came up empty handed her knife went away, albeit reluctantly. Strangers weren't something she felt comfortable dealing with, not right away.. After a moment Beth realised she hadn't spoken and the man in front of her was shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"Hi..Sorry. I was just looking.." Beth muttered, not really knowing what to say. She didn't even know his name and couldn't exactly tell him that she was trying to escape her sister and brother in law's sex noises!

"I'm-"

"Beth, yes. It's good to meet you.." He knew her? How..what? Beth wanted desperately to get her knife out, hold its weight in her palm but the guy was jittery enough and she didn't want to give him a heart attack so she just took her time, breathed in and out slowly to calm herself.

"You are?"

"Father Gabriel. Nice to meet y-you.." Gabriel smiled, extending a shaky hand to her. His grip was sweaty but strong.

"Can I help?"

"Um, no..I'm not sure. I wasn't really here for anything.." Beth mumbled, Gabriel's nervousness seemed to be rubbing off on her. Something about the man was strange and sent a weird feeling up her spine.

"Come by any time.." He sighed, stepping backwards to fiddle with the pages of a bible. She took it as her queue to leave and crept out, feeling eyes on her back.

The sun was still low on the horizon and the street was bathed in a pale golden light, it calmed her. The peaceful silence made the tension she felt upon waking fade away.

Beth stood just beyond the Church front, her hand still clasped on the small knife sitting comfortably on her belt. The corner of her lip twitched when she felt it. Daryl had given it back to her on the porch yesterday - they'd carried on talking for a while, about nothing and everything. She remembered talking about Michelle, it was still raw, it hadn't been that long and her glazed green eyes still flashed behind her eyelids at night. Daryl hadn't talked much, not really..but he didn't need to. It made her smile, feeling the giant wave of relief that washed over her when she saw him, Maggie, everyone.

That evening they'd all sat at Rick's place, bonding over pasta bake, cooked by Carol of course. Daryl had sat on the window ledge away from everyone, his eyes flicked intently from outside, to her, to Carol, to Rick, then back outside. She'd noticed he'd seemed different, tense like a coiled spring about to ping around the room. He'd only relaxed when Carol had planted herself next to him, placing her hand on his arm and whispered something Beth couldn't hear from her place, squashed between Maggie and Glen.

It was still so strange, being able to touch them, the fact that they weren't a figment of her imagination sent to torture her. Being in a house again, a safe haven, somewhere where danger couldn't get its clutches on her. She knew Maggie had watched her the whole time, a beaming happy smile on her face. That evening Maggie had announced that she was pregnant, Beth was going to be an aunt - It was overwhelming and dangerous but she couldn't think of anything better for her Maggie.

"Good Morning!"

Beth reached for her knife again but the small woman in front of her held up one hand in surrender, she didn't seem scared, only calm and smiled intently. Just like Gabriel, Beth scanned over the small woman in front of her; she couldn't be more than 5 foot 2. The woman was dressed in a pale blue shirt and black pants, very professional.

"Deanna Monroe, you're Beth?"

"Everyone seems to know me? I don't know anyone.." Beth chuckled a bit, surprising herself.

"I hadn't got a chance to speak to you, after yesterday.." The woman didn't sound solemn, just distant for a moment before resuming the intent stare. She'd be lying to herself if she said she didn't feel somewhat intimidated by Deanna and on thinking she felt guilty..the photos she'd found were the tools that the Wolves had used to track and massacre her people.

"Maggie spoke to me. I'm excited to have you here!" Beth furrowed her brow slightly, wondering what an earth Maggie would have said to this person without telling her.

"I'm sorry..for what happened to you." She'd paused to scan Beth before continuing. "You're safe here, I'm sure you know that. I came to invite you to a get together tonight, a welcome of sorts, for you, and the others of course. There hasn't been much downtime lately, I hope you can make it."

Her tone made Beth relax and she could instantly tell this woman was very perceptive. It was hardly noticeable but the older woman's facial expressions changed with her own, almost like she was trying to find a way into her brain. It was obvious that Deanna could see people clearly - every little thing about them; their strengths, weaknesses and secrets they won't even tell themselves. It made Beth wonder what she saw when she looked at her.

"I'll be there, it'll be nice.." Beth's mouth seemed to act for her and all of a sudden she was going to a 'get together'

"Lovely! Oh, and Beth?" Deanna caught her attention as she'd started to walk toward the house.

"The Doctor, Pete's house is just there.." She pointed at Beth's leg then behind her to a large white house similar to the rest of them, but this one had a large rocking chair on the porch outside, it made Beth wonder what sort of Doctor he was.

"Thank you.." Beth smiled, waving a little at the sharp eyed woman before turning toward the house.

Her leg wasn't as bad as first thought, ten stitches and a few on her face; Pete had sent her on her way with a few painkillers for good measure. He was pleasant, if not a little strange and Beth could swear she smelt whisky on his breath when he'd stitched up her face.

Quietly Beth moved toward her new home, quite looking forward to another home cooked meal. Carol had been dropping them off numerous times in the last days, she'd noticed that the older woman had a wide smile plastered on her face when she'd walked around this safe haven - the bounce in her step increasing whenever she saw a member of the original inhabitants of the sheltered town. It was strange.

Beth turned back to the mirror in her bathroom taking a deep breath. She shuddered violently, wincing at the second hand pain that ran through the burn. Beth didn't want to consider what might happen if someone saw it. She fought the nervous swirls that braided in her stomach, trying to think about something else, something that had no recollection on how that scar was birthed onto her pure, fresh milky skin. But she couldn't, couldn't undo the images that were embedded thickly in her mind. She wasn't pure and fresh any more, she'd killed a woman and her unborn baby, watched unbidden as Daryl had killed her captor - he'd pounded his cheek bones to mush and all Beth remembered feeling was gratitude. Maybe she'd deserved it...deserved the scar to remind her of the thing she'd become.

What would Daddy think?

She shook her head until her hair was a mess, trying to push away that thought in particular. It was silly, stupid even. He would be proud she'd survived and justice was served, even though there was a time that Beth knew he'd not wanted to kill, but that didn't matter now.

"Beth, we're going to Deanna's. Are you comin'?" Maggie had asked through the door.

"Yeah, let's go.." Beth said, almost hitting Maggie as she swung the door open.

"You look beautiful.." Maggie and Beth spoke in creepy unison, breaking into laughter. It took a while for them to calm down, Beth never thought she'd have that again.

"Love you Bethy.." Maggie said, pushing a piece of her sisters hair back from its place curling around her shoulder. It was unusual for Beth to be wearing a dress with a neckline this high, it was hot outside.. she must be uncomfortable. But it was more unusual that she'd jumped. It almost went undetected but Maggie knew her sister, there was something up..it sent an uncomfortable feeling through her, settling heavy in her stomach and obviously showed on her face. Glen stared from his place at her side, giving her hand a small squeeze that barely registered. Maggie hadn't moved nor said anything, which was admittedly unusual but there was something wrong.

"Maggie?"

"Ar-Are you okay?" Maggie blurted out, contemplating what to say or how to broach the unknown subject. What could she say? 'I know something's wrong with you, spit it out Beth' No..that approach never worked.

Beth spluttered trying to fend off Maggie's advances, she was dangerously close to finding what Beth desperately wanted to hide. That scar reminded her of every bad thing that'd happened when they were separated - everything that she wanted to forget.

"Yeah. Quit y'worryin', we should go.." By the time they'd made the short trip over to Deanna's house Beth nerve was starting to waver, the thought of being in a room filled with strangers was horribly unsettling. After all she'd not had the greatest luck with people so far..No Beth..she thought, these people seemed okay and it wasn't like they were in any danger here..no one was going to die.

Maggie and Glen had stopped just outside the white door of Deanna's home, pausing to look behind them at Beth who'd halted her soft steps. Maggie took in the sight of her; the navy blue high neck dress blew a little in the wind, just brushing above her knee and her long blonde hair sat in natural waves down to mid breast. She had the slightest hint of mascara on and she almost looked as old as Maggie..and how old was that? Maggie took stock for a minute, they'd had so much happen since this started was it actually possible that she'd forgotten how old they both were? Well then.

"Beth?"

"I-I'm tired Maggie. I'm gon' head home.." No way, she'd just got Beth back and wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. She couldn't wriggle her way out of this so easily. Maggie smiled, opening her mouth to respond with something witty but Glen's voice came out, making her turn on her heel.

"No way, we're in this together. If I have to go, so do you!" Glen chuckled, Maggie smiled wrapping her arm tight around his waist, the familiar heavy flutter of butterflies took off in her belly. Beth seemed to respond to Glen and moved forward, wrapping her arm around the one that Glen was offering with no hesitation. There was even a small hint of a smile on her delicate features.

The house was the grandest on the block, they were a few seconds into the 'get together' and Deanna had gushed, about her husband Reg who stood tall and happy next to her. She'd told them that he'd built it up to three stories, aided by his two sons Spencer and Aiden. The pair were smiling and she was grinning brightly back but couldn't help thinking that they've only built themselves a beautiful prison. Either way though, it was none of her concern and she was just happy to have somewhere safe to reside.

Within moments Glen and Maggie had left her to get drinks and skulk away to a secluded corner, but she wasn't alone for long. Beth had felt the cold prickle of fear run up her back and jumped around, grabbing for her knife but coming up empty. The reality of being unarmed and helpless frightened her more than anything and she staggered back, giving her enough room to look up at the person who'd snuck up on her.

"Rick.." Beth sighed, sagging her head in naked relief.

Her body taking a violent turn had made the people in the room stop their conversations and look around. They were staring, concerned. They'd never seen her before and she nearly launched herself into Rick's body with the sole intent to defend herself, she was breathing a little harder and was flushed..what a first impression.

"How you holding up?" Rick asked, scanning the young woman's alarmed face. Everyone around them had stared for a long minute before Rick had taken her to the side. He couldn't blame her for being at least a little bit intimidated by all this, Sasha had looked like she was about to burst as soon as she'd walked in the door and Daryl hadn't even turned up! Rick's thoughts lingered on Daryl for a few minutes; he was like a caged animal in Alexandria, on edge constantly. Everyone in Alexandria, watched everything he did, they were petrified of him. He thought it was quite funny, watching them take a step back from him when they were in the same room. Sure, Daryl didn't give a shit what they thought, but Rick could see something different in him over the last few days; he'd gone from being overly volatile and stand-offish, even to him, to being less so.. and Rick didn't even have to think twice to come up with the reason for that.

She had come running through the smoke, barrelling into a leather clad front, gripping for dear life. It'd been the first time he'd seen Daryl Dixon cry. Rick was sure that he was the only one that even saw this almost imperceptible change in Daryl's behaviour. Well, maybe Carol but they'd not spoken about it.

"_ Rick?" Rick blinked, focusing on Beth who'd been talking for a while. He'd zoned out a little, only catching a few words like "Wolves, Safe, Scared and Sorry.."

"You're safe here Beth." He mumbled, hoping that it was the right answer. It was, she'd smiled brightly, nodding at him but he'd tracked her eyes; she was looking at the door.

"You want me to tell Maggie and Glen you went home?" Beth smiled, grateful to Rick that she'd not actually have to tell Glen and Maggie that she'd bailed on them.

"If you wouldn't mind.."

"You're good, go before they see you!" Rick had laughed, turning to block the view of her leaving and with a brief touch on his shoulder, she slipped away and out the door into the street.

Under the moonlight Alexandria laid still. The heat of the day had been replaced by a cool breeze and Beth drifted under the trees that lined the side-walk. She moved between them and stuck her hand out to touch the bark of the trees; Noah's torn and tattered body flashed in her mind then;

Hack 'em up, chop 'em up, cut 'em to bits.

Or else they will get you while laughing in fits.

If the Screelings don't get you the Keeper will try.

To reach out and touch you, your skin he will fry.

Their voices pounded into her brain, sending her reeling, breathing deep and loud against the tree outside a smaller house on the street. She wasn't so far away from Maggie's..she could run..but had no knife. She was totally screwed. No weapons and no escape. The walls were too high to climb without aid and she was alone.

"There's a girl.." A strange voice, penetrated the screaming voices of her consciousness.

"She's not okay. Love, get him out here. I think she's part of their group!" The same strange voice got closer. She pushed off against the tree, standing with wobbly legs trying to at least look threatening...in a dress it was deathly difficult but she had no choice.

"Hi. Are you okay?"

"Of course she's not..Eric I said go get him!" Who was this him? What did he want with her?

The scar on her chest tingled painfully, making her gasp, attracting the attention of the now one man trying to talk her down.

"I'm Aaron. What's your name?" Aaron asked, reaching a hand out to the skittish girl who seemed to be melting to the ground in front of him.

"Beth." One shaky syllable released a breath out of the man who stood still on the porch steps behind him. Daryl stomped forward, stopping just short of the poor girl. He saw something switch on in the girl like a light and she looked up, giving Aaron a better view of her. Aaron's gaze lingered on the couple; The girl who had practically melted into the ground with fear not moments ago was gazing up at the skittish leather clad man in front of her.

They were smiling...

Hey there. I had an unbelievable amount of trouble with this chapter, I really hated writing it and honestly I don't think it's gone anywhere. If anyone is willing, I'd quite like someone to bounce my ideas off or have someone to talk to about this story, as I only had a plan up to this far...I have some more ideas in mind if anyone is willing to hear them and let me know what you think?

Hopefully you enjoyed this, please review and let me know what you think etc.

x