The bright Gerber daisies seemed to smile up at him, if flowers could do that. When Daryl left Mrs. Hudson's apartment after dinner, the thought of Gerber daisies hit him like a truck. Beth was planting them the first time he came to her apartment. They were on the porch when she kissed him. And now her beloved flowers were locked in her barricaded apartment, likely dead from neglect.

"'m home," Daryl announced as he cautiously opened the door to his apartment. When it swung open freely without bumping into any extra pairs of shoes, duffle bags, or humans, he looked around in confusion.

"They're gone," Beth sang out from the patio.

"Oh," Daryl nodded. "Why?" He stepped into the kitchen, setting the bouquet on the counter to give himself a moment to compose himself.

"I sent them home," Beth's voice came through the screen door. "It's too much. A baby, her givin' Jimmy the key, Merle in jail, my face, my apartment? Too much. I need a second to breathe. Carol was right," she continued. "So I have a Dr. Pepper and a book and my feet are up and that's going to be the rest of my week. Thanks for letting me stay here. I know it's a lot, fast."

"S'all'righ'," Daryl called back. He glanced in the mirror. Good enough. Mrs. Hudson had served him dinner and a heaping of wisdom. If Beth didn't want to be with him, she wouldn't. There was no reason to run away. Everyone had a crazy family and dickhead exes. Good things take work. Daryl was ready to put it in. He grinned at his reflection. Boo-yah! She likes me! I like her! Douchebag ex is in jail! Smooth sailin'.

"Daryl," Beth called. "When's my apartment going to be ready?"

Perfect. Daryl snatched the flowers and slid the screen door open. "I'm not sure. Another crew has to come clean up the-" he cleared his throat. "Clean up. I thought you might be missin' your own place, so here." He thrust the flowers out at her.

Beth looked up from her book and giggled. "Oh my god. I was thinking about my poor babies today. Jimmy kicked one of my flowerpots over when he was pushin' me around." Burying her face in the pinks and yellows, she inhaled. "Mmm! They just smell so good! Thanks." She looked up at Daryl, her big blue eyes sparkling expectantly.

He blinked. Was he supposed to say something? Do something?

"Well, do I look that bad?" Beth scoffed.

Oh, shit. What's happening? He cocked his head in confusion. "What? No, I-?"

Rolling her eyes, Beth reached up, snatched Daryl's collar, and pulled him down to kiss him. "Thank you," she whispered as she pressed her lips to his. She took his bottom lip between hers and sucked it gently.

Though Daryl's back and neck screamed at the awkward angle as he knelt down to meet her, a swarm of butterflies erupted in his stomach. This is good. It'll be all right. Day at a time, Dixon.

"Uh, hey, excuse me?"

Daryl pulled away from Beth with a wet smack.

Nikki was lingering in the parking lot before them. "Hey, I, um, I'm actually here to talk to Beth, but Daryl, it's an update for you, too."

"Sure," Beth said, setting the bouquet on the porch table next to her. "About my apartment?" She motioned to the empty chair beside her. "You can sit, if ya want."

Daryl raised an eyebrow at her. Following Nikki's threats to fire Daryl, their relationship had gone back to normal. She was the aloof manager. He was off in buildings fixing things. It worked. Beth, on the other hand, hadn't gotten a chance to smooth things over. Now he looked curiously between the two women, more uncertain of what was going to happen than he ever had been about anything in his life.

"Oh, that's all right." Nikki joined them on the porch and sheepishly flipped to a new sheet on her clipboard. "I, um, I have some news."

"I already told her we had to wait for the crew to come clean up the blood," Daryl said.

"They actually were by today while you were in Building 3," Nikki sighed. "Bullets in the walls, blood splatter everywhere, carpet soaked through to the floorboard. Their recommendation was to get rid of everything that was in the livin' room." She bit her lip. "All of it. Carpet. Drywall. Furniture."

"Oh." Beth nodded. "I- I have renters insurance, so I can get new stuff." She glanced at Daryl. "How long will that take before I can go back in?"

"Not long, necessarily, but do you want to still live here?" Nikki asked. She lowered her clipboard to her side and tilted her head slightly as she studied Beth. "I'd understand if you didn't want to. Bad memories and all." She nodded sympathetically. "If you want out, I'll waive any fine for breaking your lease."

"No," Beth replied firmly. "I really like it here. And not just Daryl," she added. "This is the nicest complex in town." She glanced over at him, and he nodded once back to her.

"Okay," Nikki smiled. "I'm glad to hear that." She jotted a few notes down, her lips moving along and mouthing the words as she wrote them.

"Is- is there another apartment open anywhere I can stay in the meantime while they fix my place up?" Beth asked.

Daryl's stomach pulled itself into a knot again. What? Why? "You- you can stay here," he grumbled. It didn't even feel like it was worth the fight. Mrs. Hudson's pep talk had pumped him up to the highest high and now Beth didn't want to stay with him anymore. Gloom cast itself over him despite the sunshine.

The question seemed to throw Nikki, too. "Oh," she stuttered. "Are- are you not going to stay here anymore? I mean, nothing like this has happened so I'm not really sure on the protocol, but I'm sure we could put you up in another unit." Pages flipped on the clipboard.

"I just hate puttin' Daryl out."

"You ain'," Daryl muttered. He turned for the screen door and slid it open more forcefully than he meant to. Gig's up. When the door slammed shut, he considered it shut on his hopes with Beth Greene.