Epilogue

Morning came a little too soon after that night. Though Daryl barley noticed it. He kept his eyes on the horizon. An ache in his chest that somehow felt better and worse. He got to say good-bye, to both of them and he held onto the belief that Beth didn't blame him. Took her word for it as he gripped her knife tight.

Carol sat across from him, her own gaze looking out onto the world as the nights events pulled them back. She said she got to see her girls . Talk to them even and Daryl felt happy for her. Glad that she got that same closure that he did, though he wasn't sure how. Avery lay between them. Her color steadily flowing back into her cheeks and her breathing going normal, though she continued to shift. Her brows furrowing together for only a moment before resting again.

He knew the moment he saw that she put too much effort into last night. That she tried a little too hard and he wasn't going to let that happen again. All four of them agreed they wouldn't speak about what happened on the roof top. That it was there and done. Another thing to just file away and pull out on the cold nights.

Carol shifted, moving her hand to rest in the girls hair and slowly comb through it. A comforting gesture that made Avery relax just a little bit more as the two friends peered at each other. Daryl could tell, just from this one night that Carol considered the girl her own. That she was taking another one under her wing and wondered if she could handle that. If he'd be able to handle bringing another into the fold of their family and dealing with the loss when it came. If it came.

Avery was a fighter.

Been a fighter since the moment they met her and he didn't that would ever change. With a low sigh, he pulled himself from the sitting position. Stretching his sore muscles and grimacing when they popped.

"Going to take a look around, " he said, barely looking at the two as he walked away. Quietly heading down the ladder until he reached the bottom and stepped off. Still sore from sitting up all night.

Another ringing came from above and he looked up in time to see Rick coming down the ladder as well. His own movement stiff from sleep as he landed next to Daryl.

"Heard you were up all night," he said, following Daryl toward the front of the building where they could look one way down the street and then the other. Daryl nodded. His mind to slipping into last nights events.

"Couldn't sleep," he stated, not wanting to elaborate. He could only imagine what Rick would say if he found out about their madness. About talking to the dead and all that shit. Then again...

He looked over at his old friend, his brother when he really thought about it.

"Nights are getting colder, longer," Rick continued, not noticing the curious glance coming from the man beside him. Daryl nodded as he pulled his glance away. "Thinking we should raid some more of these stores. Fill up on supplies and clothing. Maybe some more bedding." Daryl raised an eyebrow at him, curious as to where this was going. Rick did notice the stare this time and sighed.

"Talked to Abraham and Glenn about opening some more of those apartments. Get them running before the real cold comes in. Maybe turn that middle apartment into the daily living quarters. Get out of Avery's hair a bit."

"Set up permanent quarters," Daryl mumbled, chewing on his lip. Thinking that Carol wouldn't mind that so much.

"Think that'll be okay?" Rick asked.

"Don't see why not. It's quiet here." He gave Rick a long hard stare as the man nodded his head.

"It's good here. It can be anyways," the man mumbled. Daryl nodded in agreement. Already thinking about ways to fortify the place better. Maybe put some barriers around the town. Be their own little safe haven if they played their cards right. Rick returning grin told him the same thing and they both nodded. Starting their morning pass around the apartment to ensure it's safety before heading into the woods to scrounge up some breakfast.

It's short. Like agonizingly short, but I wanted to give ya'll some kind ending. Even if it was a short one. Something to let you know what was going to happen with the group.

I hope you enjoyed this story and thank you for putting up with my long hiatus on it.