A/N: Sorry again that this took so long to post! This chapter was really hard for me to write and I'm still not super happy with it but I've been writing and revising all week and I really just need to give it up and move on! Thank you so much to everyone for every review, follow, and favorite! You're all amazing!

Rick ran a hand through his hair agitatedly as Daryl recounted the last few days, filling in what Morgan had left out and including his own experiences. He told Rick about Beth's recovery so far, including her sudden attacks of pain and fever. He did mention that Beth had remembered things from her past but chose to ignore Rick's questioning look, not divulging anything further. He chose to omit the conversations between him and Beth about their time together, the things she'd remembered about him and what they'd been through together since the prison. Those things were private, something to be remembered and known only by him and Beth. If Beth chose to elaborate Daryl wouldn't stop her but he wasn't about to be the one to share those intimate moments with their family. Each word felt heavy as he said it, carrying the weight of the guilt he still felt over everything Beth had suffered through since he'd opened that damn door back at the funeral home.

When he finally finished, Rick was staring at his boots, hands on his hips as he chewed on his lower lip. After a long moment he asked hoarsely, "How'd we miss that? How'd we miss the fact that she was still alive?"

Daryl shook his head, looking out the window absently, "None of us was right after… weren't thinkin' straight." He glanced at Rick, who nodded slowly, still staring at his boots, and then added, "It's on me."

Rick's eyes shot to his and his eyebrows raised slightly as he leaned forward to state clearly, "No, it ain't." He leaned back after a moment and continued firmly, "You don't get to shoulder all the blame here, Daryl. I had some of it too. I should've made someone check for vitals, should've been damn sure before we… before we buried her." He closed his eyes, taking a short step away and turning slightly, running a hand down his face. He stood like that for a moment then took a long shuddering breath before looking back at Daryl. Daryl's shoulders were hunched, as if exhausted from carrying a heavy load, and he refused to meet Rick's eyes, not willing to let anyone else shoulder the blame for what'd happened. "Hey," Rick said roughly, forcing Daryl to glance up from his study of the floor, "It don't matter now. We gotta make our peace with things and move on." Rick forced a smile and stated with a slight awe in his voice, "She's alive."

Daryl nodded slowly, returning Rick's smile as best he could, "Yeah, she's alive." He stood next to Rick for a long moment in silence, both of them adjusting to this new world. It seemed that they now lived in a world where people they lost got to come back, where a special few seemed to get a second chance. Daryl glanced over to the bar, feeling his shoulders loosen in relief when he saw a hint of blonde hair visible around the corner. His eyes swept over to where Maggie sat propped up against a wall, her eyes narrowed slightly and fixed unwaveringly on Beth. "She's gonna be a problem, huh," He observed, nodding to Maggie when Rick looked at him with confusion.

Rick's eyes focused on Maggie, the cop in him taking in the tensed posture and expression of distrust. After a moment he sighed heavily and replied, "Yeah, I think she might. I was hopin' seein' Beth again would snap her out of whatever's goin' on but…" Rick paused, shifting his weight and looking weary. He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to. They could both see that Maggie's frame of mind was unsteady at best and seeing Beth come back to life in this way seemed to have pushed her over the edge rather than pulling her back. Daryl remembered how close to that ledge he'd been only a few days ago and he knew he'd have fallen right off if Beth had stayed gone. He didn't understand Maggie's reaction at all, not comprehending why she would be the least bit upset to find her sister alive. A world with Beth in it was brighter and stronger than a world without her. Why anyone wouldn't want that was beyond him.

Daryl watched Maggie for a moment, noting how she barely moved as if her entire focus was on Beth's still form across the bar. He felt a tingle at the back of his neck as he watched her, the hair standing on end, and he instantly felt an instinctual urge to put himself between her and Beth. He glanced at Rick and stated firmly, "I ain't lettin' her ride in the same car as Beth. She ain't gonna be left alone with her and she sure as shit ain't gonna be trusted around her."

Rick's blue eyes were hard as he asked, "That ain't a request, is it?"

Daryl fought the tension that was rapidly building inside his chest and replied evenly, "No." He took a purposeful step towards his brother and added in a low voice, "I ain't losing her again, Rick, even if that means keepin' her from her own damn sister."

Rick's expression softened a little but his eyes remained steely as he nodded, "Alright." He raised a finger and said firmly, "But you need to be clear on this with Beth, make sure she understands… how Maggie is. I ain't sayin' tell her how it is, just…."

Daryl nodded, "I ain't makin' decisions for her, won't keep her from seein' her sister if that's what she wants, but… I ain't lettin' her outta my sight while Maggie's around."

Daryl turned and walked quietly across the bar, not caring if Rick protested. Beth was what mattered to him, keeping her safe and he wasn't about to let Rick put her in harm's way just because he couldn't or wouldn't see that Maggie could potentially be dangerous when it came to Beth. He reached Beth's side in a few steps, shooting a glare at Maggie over his shoulder as he put himself between her and Beth. The feral look in her green eyes and the barely concealed hatred made him feel on edge, like an army of ants were running up and down his body. Maggie met his eyes and returned his glare, answering his threat with one of her own. He really didn't want to pick a fight, only wanted her to leave Beth alone and not make things harder on her sister. He knew Beth wouldn't want him to cause trouble so kept the few choice words he wanted to yell at Maggie right now to himself and stayed seated, attempting to ignore the burning feeling of Maggie's stare against his exposed side. He settled down to wait for the sun to come up so they could move again, get Beth someplace safer where there were people they could trust and reliable shelter, medicine, and food. He wouldn't trust anyone else to protect her, barely trusted himself, but at least they'd have a better chance of staying alive back with their whole family.

Beth shifted next to him, sitting up slightly and pulling his jacket closer around her shoulders as she blinked sleep from her eyes, "Everythin' okay?"

Daryl grunted as he focused on her, looking for signs that the infection was getting worse. She seemed alert, no haze of fever making her eyes unfocused or her skin flush pink. "You alright?" He asked as he looked her over.

Beth gave him a small smile and nodded, "I'm good." She must have seen his concern because a moment later he felt her small hand land on his, squeezing lightly. "Really, Daryl. I'm okay."

He nodded, turning his hand so his palm faced hers and running his thumb lightly over her fingers. He traced the bumps of her knuckles, feeling bone and tendon beneath the pad of his thumb and taking comfort in the warmth of her skin. Realizing after a moment what he was doing he stopped abruptly, dropping her hand in embarrassment.

Beth smiled softly to herself but didn't say anything. Instead, she glanced around, noting Morgan's prone form not far away, and asked quietly, "Is everyone sleeping?"

Daryl thought of Maggie's glare just out of Beth's line of sight and was grateful she couldn't see her older sister right now. "Rick's keepin' watch. Maggie's awake but… she ain't doin' well."

Beth started to rise, saying worriedly, "Maybe I should go talk to her…"

Daryl put a hand on her arm reflexively, keeping her close to him as he thought of her approaching Maggie, "Nah, she's good. Just…give her some time."

Beth looked at him with concern but relaxed after a moment. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt idly and replied softly, voice so low he almost didn't hear her, "I wish there was somethin' I could do to make this easier for her. I feel so helpless."

"She'll come around," Daryl mumbled, not believing it.

"I hope so," Beth whispered, wrapping a stray piece of thread around her finger absently. After a minute of silence she added quietly, "It's just…everything that's happening right now is my fault. You're all out here, in danger, because of me."

"Stop," Daryl grumbled, not wanting her to go down that road again. He lived on that road, in a house he'd built from guilt and self-loathing. He wasn't about to let her come along and set up camp right there with him.

"It's true," Beth argued, but Daryl cut her off.

"We ain't in danger," He said firmly. He glanced at her sideways, meeting her eyes, and added, "I'll keep ya safe."

"I know," Beth whispered, chewing her lip. She looked away after a minute, focusing again on the thread and winding it slowly around and around her finger. Daryl refocused on the wall opposite them, listening to Morgan's soft snoring and the muffled thump of Rick's footsteps as he paced on the other side of the bar. "Maggie's not… she's not okay, is she?" Beth asked, voice soft and even.

Daryl shook his head, not trusting himself to say anything. He glanced at her again, noting how she kept her eyes fixed on her hands, her expression set and calm, albeit it a little sad, but not showing any anger or pain.

"What if the others react like she did? What if no one trusts me, thinks I'm, I don't know, not real?" Beth asked, finally looking up to meet his eyes.

Daryl thought over all the replies he could give her, the false promises or the lies, and opted for the truth. He shook his head quickly and replied, "Don't matter what they think."

"How can you say that?" Beth asked in a whisper, eyes fixed on his as if she were searching for his secret to not caring. "They're your family and you honestly think it doesn't matter what they think?"

Daryl shrugged, "It don't. Don't care what they say. I ain't leavin' ya, ain't gonna let them hurt ya."

"I know," Beth replied with a small smile, bumping his shoulder slightly. "I just… it's gonna be hard enough not rememberin' everyone. I just don't know if I'm strong enough to take it if they… hate me."

"They won't," Daryl replied firmly, turning more to face her. He could see she didn't believe him but the way her eyebrows rose so he added, "You're still you. You talk for five seconds and everyone will know it's you."

"You think so?" The hope in her voice so thick he wanted to immediately pull her close and promise her that everything would be sunshine and rainbows from now on.

Instead he swallowed and nodded, "Yeah. Like I said, Maggie's been… off… for a while. Everyone else is okay, though. They're just gonna be glad you're back."

"Okay," Beth conceded, letting out a long breath like she'd stored up all her anxieties about more pending reunions with their family deep in her chest and was releasing them now in one long exhale.

Almost without even thinking about it, Daryl raised an arm, looping it over her shoulders lightly. She glanced up at him with a surprised smile and he mumbled, "You should sleep. C'mon." She instantly scooted closer to his side, resting her fingers against the leather of his vest and closing her eyes. He pulled his jacket higher up over her shoulders so she'd stay warm and tried to relax even though his whole body felt like it was on a hair trigger. They were so close to being safe, to getting back to the life that'd been stolen from them after the prison fell. Being this close to happiness again left him feeling edgy and tense, like he had to prepare for it all to be ripped away from him at any moment. He looked down at Beth, failing to understand how he'd gotten this lucky and trying not to wonder when it would all start to crumble.

"I always sleep better when you're close," Beth whispered against him, fingers finding a light grip on his vest. "It's like… knowing you're close means I'm safe."

"You are," He mumbled, trying to keep his voice gentle.

"I know," She replied with a drowsy smile.