I don't own the Walking Dead or anyone or anything having to do with the Walking Dead. Thank you to everyone who has followed and reviewed your feedback is appreciated very much and serves as a tremendous motivator. I also don't own Little do you know by Alex and Sierra but, I heard it recently and it fit this stories Daryl and Beth so much I had to include it. This is a long chapter guys so please hang on for a wild ride.

Chapter 25

I'll wait, I'll wait

I love you like you've never felt the pain, I'll wait

I promise you don't have to be afraid, I'll wait

The love you see right here stays so lay your head on me

Little do you know

I know you're hurt while I'm sound asleep

Little do you know

All my mistakes are slowly drowning me

Little do you know

I'm trying to make it better piece by piece

Little do you know

I, I love you till the sun dies

Beth woke at dawn the next morning to Scout licking her chin as he snuggled against her chest. Rolling onto her side she took in Reed sleeping soundly across the small expanse of the tent as well as the crackers and water that Daryl had obviously left near her sleeping bag at some point that morning. Beth marveled at the man's ability to move like a shadow when he wanted to. Reaching for the crackers she nibbled on one as she stroked Scouts head. She wanted to leap up and head out to find Daryl after last night but, she knew her stomach wouldn't tolerate that. She impatiently waited about ten minutes, nibbling on crackers, and sipping water, before she finally felt her stomach was settled enough to get up.

She moved slowly sitting up first and waiting a few minutes to see if her stomach began to roil. When nothing changed she stood up and moved towards her bag. There was a slight chill in the early June morning air and she pulled her bra, t-shirt, and flannel out of her pack. Peeking at Reed and noting he was still sound asleep she turned her back to him before donning her clothing. After stowing her tank back in her pack she exited the tent in search of Daryl. She found him the moment she exited the tent sitting by the fire staring blankly into the embers. Quietly she approached him waiting until she drew his attention to slid into a seated position at his side.

Peaking over at her through his overly long hair he muttered, "Mornin," before resuming poking the edge of the fire with a stick.

Beth wasn't sure what she had been expecting after the previous night, Daryl was the most unpredictable person she had ever met, but she wasn't expecting to be virtually ignored.

She was aware that he had fled as soon as she had fallen asleep and that he hadn't returned at all during the night. He hadn't woken her either as he usually did when he brought his morning offering of crackers and water. Instead he had just left it and snuck out of the tent. She was really trying to be patient with Daryl it wasn't like he didn't deserve that after what she had done but, her frustration with him was quickly mounting. Before last night she might have second guessed herself when it came to him, when it came to his feelings for her, she wasn't naïve enough to think she deserved someone like Daryl's love and affection after all. But, watching him touch her, the look in his eyes, the feel of his lips on hers, she didn't doubt his desire for her anymore. She couldn't even begin to figure out why it existed for her of all people but, it did, and that's all she cared about at the moment. The whys could wait to be examined another time.

She knew now though that he wanted her as desperately as she had wanted him. It had been written all over him the night before and she wasn't going to put up with being brushed off the next morning like it hadn't meant anything at all and they were just going to forget that it happened.

Unbidden her frustration and anger had grown until she was practically seething, later she would blame it on the hormones but, in the moment she couldn't stop herself from snapping," Ya didn't have any problem last night looking at where your fingers were buried inside me. What's the matter? Don't ya have the balls ta look me in the face this morning?"

She hadn't even uttered the final syllable of her insult before Daryl's head was snapping up and around to face her. His eyes locked on her for a moment and she caught the surprise, anger, and interestingly enough embarrassment buried in the depths. She instantly felt bad about her comment, she knew Daryl wasn't someone who had had a lot of intimate relationships, and he certainly had not hidden his aversion of long standing ones. He might have assertively taken the lead the night before but, she was beginning to wonder if that was a result of his unquestionable trust in her. Had he simply been comfortable enough with her to finally be true to himself and his desires. She looked at Daryl and saw a confident man capable of leading and facing any danger but, she knew he didn't see himself that way, and she wished she could retract her rashly spoken accusations. After all Daryl hadn't truly let himself go the night before, he had walked away from her with his own desire unsated, which illustrated that he was still holding back from her. Now here she was attacking him the next morning, not the most surefire way to convince him to trust that last little bit that was needed for them to finally move forward in their relationship.

"Girl I got plenty a balls," Daryl snapped angrily fire dancing in the depths of his eyes. But, it wasn't only fire Beth could also see the defensiveness and pain buried there. Her insult had taken him back to a time when Merle would have made a similar accusation and she felt her heart sink at the realization of her mistake.

Raging now, clearly hurt, the hunter continued, " I got you pregnant in one go didn't I. Would say I don't got any problems in the balls department."

Before she could respond Daryl was pushing himself up from the ground and reaching for his crossbow. Stalking towards the woods he didn't even turn towards her as he snapped, "Goin ta find breakfast," before melting into the foliage.

As she sat momentarily stunned at the exchange gone so wrong she contemplated for a moment getting up and following Daryl. Thanks to all of his lessons she could track him, she had no doubt about her ability to do so. However, she quickly realized it would be better to give him time to cool off. In reality Daryl was actually a very sensitive individual and she knew that about him, so she couldn't wrap her head around what had provoked her to say what she had. Daryl over thought almost everything because of his aversion to impulsive choices, a byproduct of living a lifetime with impulsive people. It might seem like Daryl made impulsive choices sometimes but, she knew that was never the case. He could make split second choices but, they were always quickly evaluated and weighed out. He had clearly been struggling before she had even come out to him and instead of attacking him she knew she should have asked him to talk to her.

She wanted to kick herself for her own feelings of inadequacy. She was so afraid of Daryl finding her lacking that she automatically assumed that he always did which, always prompted a defensive reaction in her. She knew she needed to stop being reactive but, it was easier said than done especially with her emotions all over the place. Sometimes she felt so out of control she wanted to scream and she couldn't always judge whether her feelings were legitimate or whether it was the hormones making her irrational.

Sighing she picked up the stick Daryl had been using to poke the fire and began her own assault on the dying embers as Scout snoozed beside her. She wasn't sure how long she had been lost in thought when Scout suddenly began to growl softly beside her. Beth snapped to attention instantly recognizing the puppy's early warning. Reaching for her bow beside her the puppy continued to growl lowly and without attracting any attention but hers. She was just standing as a walker stumbled out of the woods into the clearing of the camp. It had just sighted her and headed in her direction when Beth without hesitation put a bolt through its brain.

The walker hadn't even fully dropped before Daryl crashed through the undergrowth coming to a skidding stop beside the corpse his own weapon at the ready. Beth took in the anxious hunter and with a shrug of her shoulders nonchalantly reported, "Scout must of smelled him cause he started growling. So I knew he was comin."

Nodding the hunter reached down to pull Beth's bolt from the corpses head. Wiping it on his pants he handed it to her along with the two rabbits on his belt, "Here," he grunted before motioning to the corpse, "Gonna get rid of our friend. Be right back."

Sliding the bolt back in her quiver Beth nodded as she carried the rabbits over to the area where she knew Daryl would want to butcher them.

A moment later Daryl joined her at the location, reaching for the rabbits, he asked, "Are ya okay?"

"I am fine, "Beth assured him quickly, "it was just one and Scout alerted me to its presence before I even saw it."

Glancing down at the puppy who was currently at Beth's heels the hunter grunted out, "Little guy is proving to be quite the early warnin system. Don't think he's been wrong once so far with his alertin."

Beth reached down to stroke the puppy lovingly as she contemplated Daryl's assessment of the dog. It had taken them a couple of times to figure out what Scout was doing but, now that they understood what the pup was trying to tell them his warnings were proving to be invaluable. Beth would never admit to Daryl that she hadn't been paying attention to her surroundings as she sat at the fire. Without Scout's warning she might have had a real tousle with that walker before killing it.

"He's pretty amazin isn't he," Beth agreed offering the hunter a halfhearted smile. "Daryl about what I said earlier," Beth began only to be cut off by the archer picking up his hunting knife and turning his back to her.

He had just picked up one of the rabbits when Beth placed a hand on his forearm refusing to be ignored, "We need ta talk about this," she insisted.

"Ain't nothin ta talk about," the surly hunter grunted at her the tip of his knife poised to begin skinning his kill. "I think ya made your point pretty clearly," his expression darkened and Beth could read the hurt oozing out of him, "Ya better get goin before I start skinnin or your gonna get sick."

A week ago Beth would have high tailed it away from Daryl reading his hurt as anger or frustration with her. Understanding his true feelings she refused to back down. She knew she had caused damage and to let it fester would only make the resolution harder in the end. She needed to fix it now. "No," she stated with such conviction that the hunter dropped the knife and rabbit and turned on her.

"No," he repeated disbelief clear on his features. Beth knew he was used to chasing people off with his surly attitude and she wasn't going to fall for it.

"No," she repeated again. Having gained his attention she softened her voice before saying, "Daryl I am sorry about earlier. I let my hormones get the better of me and I said something stupid."

"Your hormones," Daryl muttered in disbelief clearly not buying her reasoning and wanting her to know.

"Yeah my hormones," she reiterated patiently, "they make me feel crazy sometimes and when I get emotional like that I say stupid stuff. I got upset that you were almost ignoring me after last night and I said something stupid."

"Last night don't change nothin," Daryl snarled at her hurt and anger clearly written across his features.

Unable to help herself Beth snorted in frustration before challenging, "Ya really believe that. Ya got ta be kiddin me."

"It don't," the hunter fired back, "Ya got needs I get that, and since I am responsible for them being so fired up I'll help ya with them. That's all."

Beth's jaw dropped as she considered Daryl's justification for what had happened between them the previous evening. She loved Daryl and she appreciated everything about him including his damaged side. She knew he struggled with emotional connections and even the concept of intimate relationships but, was he serious. Studying his features she realized in shock that he really believed what he was telling her. He felt responsible for her pregnancy and anything that happened to her because of it and therefore, he would take care of it for her.

Beth struggled with how to reach Daryl. She had felt him last night trembling as he touched her, seen the look in his eyes, felt his need pressed against her. She knew what was between them was about more than functionality. The passion between them didn't stem from simple physical need or to simply scratch an itch. It was flowing forth from a deep emotional attachment. One that they had been building and relying on for months now, by her best guess it had been virtually just her an Daryl for close to a year, since the prison fell. She didn't count the small window of time that she had seen the rest of their family at the hospital. It has been all of fifteen minutes at most and for a large chunk of that time she had been unconscious.

As she examined him Beth found herself having to make a split second decision. Force the issue by making Daryl confront the emotional connection between them or let it ride until he came to the realization himself. In the end the decision was easy for her. She knew how Daryl felt even if he had never confessed it to her outright. It was there in all of his actions and if you knew how to read him it was written right there across his face. However, she knew if she pushed him, tried to force the issue, he would deny it and fight twice as hard to run away from it. She knew he would never leave her, especially not now, but he would erect what would amount to an emotional wall equal to Mt. Everest for her to scale in order to reach him. No she decided it would be better to play this Daryl's way for right now. As her daddy always said you could lead a horse to water but, you couldn't make him drink. Daryl was that horse, wrung out and lathered standing in front of a sparkling clean water trough, and he was refusing to trust enough to take the drink he so desperately desired. She couldn't force him so she would have to gently earn his trust in order to coax him into taking that first desperate sip.

Taking a small step back in order to give Daryl some space and hoping to signal her capitulation Beth murmured sweetly, "Okay."

Her movement and single softly spoken answer startled the hunter and he visibly deflated in front of her. It was clear he had been expecting a bigger fight or possibly that he had been provoking one. She had thrown him off kilter and with a startled expression he parroted, "Okay," questions clear in his tone.

Reaching out now, finally feeling safe to touch him, Beth intertwined her fingers with his and pulled him closer to her, "Yeah okay. If what your offerin is physical release then I am really not in a position to decline. I need ya right now and I am too pragmatic to deny myself somethin I need. After all the world ended in case ya didn't notice, " she vaguely gestured at their surroundings, " I suppose I should accept any little pleasures that come my way." She paused a moment, drew in a deep breath, really focusing on maintaining eye contact with the hunter despite his intimidating stare, "Ya never know what tomorrow is gonna hold out here. Mine as well enjoy what ya got." Reaching forward she smoothed the hunters unruly bangs back as she drove home her apology, "I am sorry Daryl for what I said this mornin. I had expectations and clearly they were unfair. It isn't like you didn't make yourself clear back at the B&B. I am okay with what your offerin if that's all ya can offer for now and I promise not to narc on ya about it."

Done Beth forced herself to stand quietly while the hunter absorbed her words. She wanted to scream at him. To tell him she didn't mean any of what she was saying and that he just needed to trust her, to trust in them, and that he would find more happiness than he had ever known. Beth had never seen herself as cocky but, she knew she could make Daryl happy if he would just give them that chance. It had never been clearer to her, than it was at the moment, that Daryl desperately craved the family he had never had. His comments about the baby's safety back at the bungalow had alerted Beth to how strongly he had latched on to the idea of family even if it was still subconscious for him. The man standing in front of her was screaming to be loved, to be cherished, but he would never admit that, maybe not even to himself. She was going to have to navigate a minefield of explosives, all primed by the extensive damage he had sustained over the course of his life, in order to reach his heart. She had never felt more ready for the challenge than she was in that moment. She would back down today, it wasn't about winning a battle, she was at war for Daryl's heart, and she wasn't going to lose. She would accept his touch because she knew what it meant, to both her and to him, even if he refused to face the reality of it. He was a very masculine man who had denied himself for so long it had become a habit for him, she knew that part of her strategy would involve forging a physical bond between them. He needed to feel safe with her, and she knew that would only come with time and experience, the same way they had forged their emotional connection.

Her easy capitulation had clearly stunned the hunter who continued to stare at her dumbstruck. She wasn't playing up to his expectations and clearly he didn't know what to say. He opened and closed his mouth several times before offering a halfhearted, " Good glad ya see it my way."

Beth chocked back a laugh, if only he knew what she was thinking, and nodded towards the rabbits.

Still appearing a little dazed and continuing to study her face the hunter glanced distractedly at the animals. Answering her unasked question he confirmed, "Yeah that's breakfast." Coming to an internal decision he visibly appeared to shake himself before turning on heel to resume the task of preparing the animals for cooking.

Deciding to give him a few minutes Beth wandered back towards the small fire intent on actually watching for danger this time. With her back towards Daryl she could hear his small grunts and huffs as he focused on the butchering and moments later he was approaching her to set the rabbits on their makeshift spit. He had just finished the task and turned towards Beth when Brian unzipped the tent flap and staggered out still rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Mornin sleepy head," Beth joked lightly as the soldier plopped down beside her.

"Princess," he acknowledged reaching for a bottle of water that was next to Beth.

Giving in to her curiosity she asked, "Why do you call me that?"

"Princess?," Reed questioned reaching for a stick to poke at the fire's coals.

"Yeah," she confirmed watching him stoke the fire while she waited for her answer.

Finally turning towards her with a grin he answered," Because you're a badass."

Confused Beth questioned, "Being a badass makes me a princess? Cuz to my way of thinkin being a princess makes ya a spoiled helpless mess."

Her comment earned a hearty laugh from the soldier as he turned towards Daryl," Ya ever watch a Disney movie my friend," he questioned the hunter.

"Do I look like I watch Disney movies," Daryl snapped back at the younger man.

"Oh come on Dixon," Reed ribbed, "You've had to have seen at least one in your life."

"Nah," Daryl denied with a sharp shake of his head before returning his attention to the spit he was turning.

"Your lyin," Reed pushed, "come on man just admit that you've seen one. My favorite has always been Mulan. Love a girl that's badass enough to go to war."

"Pfff," Daryl snapped at the man, "do ya even know how girly ya sound right now."

Unperturbed Reed shot back, " There isn't anything girly about loving your family. My sister loved Disney movies and I loved spending time with her. Hence my extensive knowledge of Disney princesses." Turning back to Beth he finally answered her question, "You my lovely lady are a princess. Your beautiful, have overcome loads of adversity, are a total badass," Reed paused before driving home his final point with a grin, "and your prince charming is a beast."

At Reed's final pronouncement Beth had to slap a hand across her mouth to keep from laughing. Turning twinkling eyes towards Daryl she caught him glaring at the younger man before he muttered, "I ain't a beast."

Beth ignored Daryl's statement instead turning her attention back to Brian," Okay I no longer find it offensive that ya call me princess. That is officially a very cool moniker. Thank you." She found herself grinning all of her previous frustration from earlier in the morning evaporating as she joked with Brian.

"You're very welcome, " the young solider returned, his grin equaling her own.

Both Beth and Brian were drawn from their good natured bickering by Daryl's sudden dire pronouncement, "the woods are crawlin with walkers."

"What, "Beth questioned her attention snapping back to Daryl.

"Meant ta tell ya when I got back earlier and got distracted by the walker ya killed," the hunter explained.

"Walker she killed?, " Brian asked clearly lost in the current conversation.

"Yeah, " Beth confirmed turning to Brian, "Had one wander right into camp this mornin. I had just put a bolt through him when Daryl came burstin back outta the forest." She gestured towards the woods, "He took care of it."

Turning his attention back towards Daryl the young soldier asked, " What exactly is the definition of crawling with walkers?"

Grimly Daryl answered, "Means there's a shit ton of them," before moving to pull the rabbits off the spit.

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After Daryl's announcement a somber mood had descended on the group. Everyone knew the dangers of traveling through walker infested territory and they weren't eager to commence the experience. However, they ate quickly and then broke down camp. As they were getting ready to leave the clearing Daryl had warned Beth to keep an eye on Scout as the puppy ambled beside them. The next three days were hell for the little group. The woods were indeed crawling with walkers, leading Daryl to believe they had once comprised a large herd that for some reason had broken apart and scattered. They had to be deadly quiet as they moved and were always on the alert for a stray corpse. Nights were even more hellish and even Beth was taking turns on watch. Daryl had finally agreed to let her acknowledging that they couldn't risk anyone being even a little off due to exhaustion. Their current circumstances forced Daryl to let her take watch for several nights but, he wasn't happy about it. He had firmly told her that when they were finally clear of this mess she would go back to not being in the watch rotation. Scout's unique warning system saved each of them at one time or another during the long three days and while they were still headed north their progress was exceptionally slow. Each day Beth saw Daryl's frustration building until by the end of the third day he was visibly shaking with the emotion. They had found a reasonably secure location to camp for the night but, they weren't willing to risk hunting. As they dined on supplies from their packs the hunter paced erratically around the camp site muttering to himself under his breath about how they needed to get clear of this mess. Beth was waiting for him to explode and Brian appeared to have enough common sense not to bait the other man.

Finally as the sun set the soldier offered in Daryl's general direction, " I got first watch Dixon if ya want ta take the princess and get a few hours of sleep."

"Yeah thanks," the archer growled. Approaching Beth he reached down for her hand, "Come on sprite," he all but barked.

Knowing better than to argue with Daryl when he was in such a foul mood she willingly took his proffered hand and allowed him to pull her into a standing position. He was firm but, gentle as he guided her towards the tent, and Scout was quick to follow his two human companions. The puppy was rarely if ever not with at least one of them.

Beth had turned her back to Daryl in order to rummage through her pack and she heard him as he zipped the tent flap. Turning around to ask him a question about the watch schedule, her tank in her hands, she was startled when he suddenly put his hands on her upper arms and yanked her towards him. They hadn't touched in anyway other than familial since that first night in the tent so she was startled beyond words when the archer was suddenly kissing her fiercely. It all happened so fast she could barely process it but, her tank dropped to the tent floor as her arms came up to embrace the desperate man. His kiss was frantic, deep, and demanding. She was still struggling to catch up to the kiss when his large hands grasped the hem of her t-shirt before he broke the kiss long enough to pull it over her head.

Beth was panting as he pulled her back to him, his lips claiming her in another soul searing kiss, his hands going to the buckle of her belt. He continued to kiss her, not uttering a single word, as he unbuttoned her jeans and pushed them down her legs. Beth choose not to say a word and instead willingly stepped out of the garment unashamedly standing before the archer in her bra and panties. Reaching for Daryl's kutte she pushed it off his shoulders before grasping the hem of his own t-shirt. As soon as the garment was over his head he was dropping to his knees before her on the sleeping bag.

Leaning forward he pressed his lips to her slightly swollen abdomen, she appeared bloated more than anything else, before uttering his first words since entering the tent, "I am gonna protect ya. I ain't gonna let anythin happen ta either a ya." The words were a hushed whisper more a prayer than a statement reflecting the stress of the last several days.

Tears pricked at the corner of Beth's eyes as she looked down at her best friend, this man who had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Dropping to her knees in front of him she reached out to cup his face softly. Unable to stop her emotions from running away with her she locked eyes with him in the dim light as she whispered, "I love you. God I love you." It was the first time she had professed her feelings in quite that manner and she couldn't have recalled them if she wanted to. She didn't want to, she wasn't ashamed of what she felt for this man, and he needed to know he was loved.

In the quiet silence he studied her as he absorbed her words. At her confession the desperate tension in him seemed to evaporate leaving in its wake a heart breaking tenderness that had her leaning into him, gathering him against her. They held each other for a moment, skin to skin, her hands running up his bare back in comfort before he was pulling away.

Reaching out he used both of his hands to cup her face as he locked eyes with her, "I need you," the confession seemed to be ripped from deep inside of him.

It wasn't what she wanted to hear. It wasn't a reciprocation of her love but, in the moment it was enough and she knew she couldn't rebuff him. He was coming to her and offering what he could of himself and she had to accept that. She had to be what he needed in that moment.

"Then take me," she whispered on a breath, "I am yours Daryl Dixon," she reached up and grabbed his hand. Pulling it from her face she cradled it as she placed it over the tiny swelling in her abdomen. The swelling was still so slight that they could both barely feel it and it was only noticeable because of how absolutely flat her stomach usually was. "You've already marked me. Take what belongs to you," she urged him.

He didn't utter a single word but she watched the possession that stole back over his features. In fact she revealed in it, she had no problems with belonging to this man. It was as if her words reignited the fire within Daryl and with a fierce groan he was wrapping her tightly in his embrace as he brought his lips back to hers for a kiss meant to claim.

She was so consumed by the feel of him kissing her, by the fire that burned so hotly inside her, that she was unaware of him stripping her bra and panties from her. Soon she was lying back with him kneeling between her legs and his lips were traveling down her neck to her breasts. He caressed her there with both his lips and fingers until she was sopping wet and crying out with need. Levering herself up to kiss him she reached forward to undo the snap on his jeans and he didn't stop her. He helped her to push the garment down his legs and then he was kicking them away leaving him in only a tight pair of black boxer briefs. Taking a moment to appreciate the exquisite specimen of man before her Beth mused that she would have pegged Daryl for the type to go commando. Maybe that was biased but, the boxer briefs were a total surprise. No matter what though in her mind Daryl was possibly the sexiest man she had ever laid eyes on. His body was all hard planes and rippling muscles.

Still sitting up and kissing him fiercely she slid her hands down his bare back to his tight backside. Pulling him against her his raging erection collided with her sopping wet core. They both moaned at the contact and before Beth could register what was happening Daryl was pushing her down and grinding himself against her. His tongue caressed her own, both of them panting harshly, as he brought his hand to her swollen breast and tweaked the nipple gently. She gasped bucking against him and drawing another moan from him.

"Am I hurtin ya," Daryl gasped pulling away from her lips for a moment.

"No," she panted, "they're sore but, you're bein gentle and that feels so good. Please Daryl," she moaned as she reached down to try to push his underwear down.

"No," he denied on a moan of his own while stopping her hand. Pushing himself against her again he panted, "Don't rush it darlin. Just enjoy this for right now."

Beth wanted to scream in frustration but, she was quickly distracted by him grinding his rock hard erection against her clit. The fabric of his boxer briefs and the feel of him against her had her writhing in need. Pulling away from her slightly he rocked back enough to drop his mouth back to her breasts while he continued to grind himself against her. It didn't take long and she was crying out his name as she rocked and shuddered against him. Her own climax was barely fading when she felt him push against her one final time before a long harsh moan of pleasure escaped his lips. With her arms wrapped around him she could feel him shuddering against her and she could only surmise from her previous experience that he had found his own release. That thought was confirmed in her mind when he collapsed against her his sweat soaked head finding a resting spot on her chest.

After a moment of harsh panting in an attempt to catch his breath he levered himself up enough to ask, " Am I squashin ya."

"Nah," she denied softly, " I like holdin ya like this."

Her comment earned a soft snort from the archer as he pushed himself off of her and rolled onto his back. Sighing quietly he murmured, "come here darling," as he opened his arms to her. She was quick to snuggle against him throwing a naked leg over his underwear clad hips.

After a moment of silence he murmured into the dark abyss of the tent, "Got ta get dressed in a moment. It's too dangerous ta be layin here like this."

"I know," she conceded tiredly, "but just give me a minute."

Leaning down he kissed the crown of her head affectionately, "close your eyes sprite. I'll let ya know when it's time ta get dressed."

"Kay,"she murmured around a yawn. Completely sated and trusting Daryl to keep her safe she snuggled against his hard warmth as she drifted off to sleep.

Little do you know

How I'm breaking while you fall asleep

Little do you know

I'm still haunted by the memory

Little do you know

I'm trying to pick myself up piece by piece

Little do you know

I need a little more time

Underneath it all I'm held captive by the hole inside

I've been holding back

For the fear that you might change your mind

I'm ready to forgive you but forgetting is a harder fight

Little do you know

I need a little more time

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They set off again the next morning with Daryl in a somewhat better state of mind. Reed had teased him about it, clearly having heard them the night before, and Daryl put up with a few of his barbs before snapping at the younger man to be quiet. Reed had snapped a quick retort before agreeing that it might be best to keep the noise volume down in the walker infested forest. By mid-morning it finally appeared as if the walkers were thinning and that they might be reaching the end of the infestation. With the sun nearing the noon day hour they trekked out of the forest onto a deserted stretch of state route 110. As Daryl rummaged through his pack looking for something for Beth to eat she sipped on a bottle of water and examined a sign that announced Blacksburg was twenty five miles away. She was keeping an eye on the surrounding empty farmland musing that they were almost out of South Carolina when a strange noise caught her attention. It came again snapping her attention in the direction of the sound and this time she recognized it for what it was. The sound of a baby shrieking shattered the stillness as she turned towards Daryl and Brian. Daryl was hastily shoving items back in his pack as he made to reach her.

Grabbing her by the arm he offered a cautionary, "Beth."

She hadn't even registered that she was moving in the direction of the sound until Daryl's firm hold stopped her. The noise came again even more frantic than before and something in Beth began to panic. It wasn't the simple panic of a woman hearing a baby cry, it was a much more primal type of panic, that had her heart racing, and her mind screaming at her to run towards the sound.

"Let go," she cried tugging at Daryl's hold on her arm frantically. She had to get to that baby.

"Beth stop it, " the archer growled angrily trying to contain her as her panic escalated.

"No," she all but screamed as Reed stood by helplessly watching them. "Daryl that's a baby damn it let me go," she continued to fight in a blind panic.

"Damn it girl, " the hunter snarled as he all but tackled her dragging her to the ground with him. Wrapping his arms and legs around her he pulled her against him as he demanded, "Damn it Beth calm down. Your gonna hurt yourself. What the hell has gotten into you?"

She was sobbing by then her heart racing so quickly it felt ready to explode. When another wail reverberated through the air she turned viciously on the hunter, "What the hell is wrong with you Daryl that's a baby damn it. We have to do something….we have to. Would you want someone to let your baby die?"

Having lost all patience Daryl spun her around in his lap to face him. His hold was like a steel vice as he snarled, "I know that's a baby damn it and no I wouldn't want someone to just let my baby die you foolish girl. Which is why you aren't running head long into whatever that is with no thought for your own safety."

Daryl's words finally permeated the panic coursing through Beth and she recognized that the hunter wasn't going to do anything until she could calm down. He wasn't going to risk his own child's life for a nameless faceless one screaming from the woods. Forcing her panic down she managed to stutter out, "Okay….okay. I'll be calm. Please," she drew in a shuddering breath, "please we have ta do something."

Letting her go and moving to stand he ground out stonily, "We will but on my terms." Reaching down for her he pulled her into a standing position as he demanded, "Ya follow my lead ya got it?" At her nod he continued, " I swear sprite don't make me regret this. Ya do something stupid and I'll carry ya kickin and screamin away from here."

Her panic only temporarily contained she snapped, "Yeah I got it Daryl." Turning in the direction of the sound she urged, "Come on lets go."

As Beth made to head in the general direction of the noise Daryl grabbed her arm stopping her. " Ya stay behind me," he commanded as he turned to Reed, "and you make sure she doesn't bolt."

"Got it," the soldier affirmed as he moved to follow behind Beth.

Daryl made a motion for everyone to be quiet as they moved across the road and into the woods on the other side. The baby wasn't screaming any longer but, her soft sobs could be clearly heard as they moved through the trees. The noise wrenched at Beth's heart and she struggled to understand what she was feeling. She had heard babies cry before and she had never felt this level of panic. Was it because of her own pregnancy or because the baby sounded like it was in distress. Yes she decided as she followed behind Daryl, she could clearly hear the distress in the baby's cries. It was so familiar…so easy to understand…she felt like the baby was crying directly to her….for her. She blindly followed Daryl into a small clearing, her panic obscuring what was going on around her, as something inside her snapped into place. "Judith," she whispered just as Daryl bolted into the clearing.

"Son of a bitch," the archer swore as he fell to his knees beside the seated man leaning against the loblolly pine. When Beth made to follow Daryl Reed grabbed her trying to prevent her from doing so.

"Let me go damn it," she snarled wrenching out of his grip with a technique Daryl had taught her. He wasn't fast enough to catch her and she skidded to her knees beside Daryl desperately reaching for the crying baby strapped to the man's chest. There were tears running down her face as she sobbed the child's name," Judith oh my baby…. my poor sweet girl," her hands were frantically stroking the top of the child's downy head as Daryl wildly pulled at the straps to the carrier trying to free the little girl.

"Almost got it darlin," the hunter vowed as he kept glancing up worriedly into the face of the man who was either unconscious or dead. A large bit wound was clearly visible on his upper arm and based on the thick congealed blood around it the wound wasn't fresh. Finally he was able to free the child and pulling her out of the carrier he quickly handed her to a sobbing Beth who crushed the child against her chest while rocking and crooning nonsensically. Sensing that she was safe, perhaps even instantly recognizing Beth for who she was to her, the little girl quieted almost immediately. After frantically checking Judith over and ensuring she wasn't harmed Beth was also able to finally get her own panic contained.

Clutching the little girl in her arms she turned to Daryl who was focused on checking over Tyrese. She was just about to ask the hunter if he was still alive when the big man's eyes fluttered open. Reed thrust a bottle of water in Daryl's direction and the hunter quickly moved to offer it to the injured man, "Here try to drink."

Clearly already deep in the throes of the fever Tyrese shook his head before glancing at both Beth and Daryl in confusion.

"Am I dead already," the big man rasped, "did ya come ta get me."

Confused Daryl glanced towards Beth who mouthed, "he thinks we're both dead."

Understanding dawned and turning back to Tyrese he announced, "We ain't dead Ty. "

"Course ya are," the delirious man mused, "saw poor Beth get shot in the head," he paused sucking in a shuddering breath," didn't see you go but, we figured ya opted out when ya wouldn't leave her behind."

Beth saw anger flash across Daryl's face at the implication that he would opt out. She knew the hunter would never go down without a fight but, obviously the rest of their family didn't understand that. However, Tyrese was clearly dying so Daryl quickly disregarded his anger and turned to asking more important questions.

"Where's everyone else Ty," Daryl demanded.

Turning pain filled eyes to Daryl some of the confusion cleared from Tyrese's expression, " You really are here aren't you," the big man breathed in wonder. "Oh thank God I was so worried about the little one," he gasped as he looked lovely towards the little girl in Beth's arms. Judith was finally quiet having plastered herself against Beth's chest with her wet face turned into the side of her adoptive mother's neck.

"Ty," Daryl prompted bringing the man's attention back to his question.

"Don't know where they are," Tyrese gasped. Drawing in another deep shuddering breath he continued, "We were all headed towards D.C. with Abraham and we ran into this massive herd about ten days ago. I got separated from everyone else with Judith."

Pausing as if to draw on what little strength he had left he looked towards the wound on his arm, "Got surprised about two days ago and got bit. I've been wondering around since then trying to find a place for the little girl. Hoped I might still be able to find everyone else."

There was silence in the clearing for a moment as everyone absorbed Tyrese's confession. The man himself slumped against the tree clearly having exhausted himself. He continued to breath quickly and shallowly struggling to take a deep breath.

After several minutes of silence it was Reed who piped up hesitantly, "Guys we can't stay here."

" I know," Daryl murmured turning his attention back to Tyrese and raising his hand to gently touch the man's forehead. He had just made contact with Tyrese's scorching skin when his eyes shot open once more. Reaching forward with his good arm Tyrese grabbed onto Daryl's arm as he began to cough violently. Blood foamed on his lips as he turned to Beth and croaked out, "Take care a that baby. You take care of her now. You're her momma she needs you."

" I will Ty I promise," Beth vowed on a sob, "thank you…..thank you for bringing her back to me safely."

Tyrese nodded to Beth before turning back to Daryl, "Don't let me turn man…please," he begged as he took a wheezing breath.

"I won't," Daryl promised stoically as he locked eyes with Tyrese. The big man took two more wheezing breaths before he released a deep exhale which was followed by complete silence.

As Daryl drew his hunting knife Beth turned away sobbing. As she paced away from the tree with Judith clutched to her chest Scout followed obediently behind her. She sank down on a large rock several feet away and struggle to get her emotions in order. Reed had followed her and he dropped all of their packs at her feet before rummaging through his own and withdrawing his e-tool. He took a moment to unfold the small shovel before turning to Beth.

"Ya gonna be alright princess," he asked worriedly as he dropped a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Do I have a choice," she retorted her voice strangely calm. Nodding in Daryl's direction she entreated, "Go help him. Please," she paused to steady her voice before continuing, "Ty…he was a member of our family. Daryl shouldn't have to bury him alone."

"I got it," the soldier promised with a nod before turning to head in the hunter's direction.

And there it is folks! Finally the introduction of the team family member who is important to both Beth and Daryl….and who isn't Carol lol. That was the most popular guess by the way in case anyone was wondering. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I know it jumped around a lot but, I had a lot to get through and I wanted to be sure that Judith was introduced in this chapter as I had promised. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so faithfully over the last several chapters. I thoroughly enjoy your comments and observations and they help to fuel development of the next chapter. The next several chapters are already outlined so hopefully I will get them up fairly quickly. The next big event will be the introduction of an original character who I set up in one of the past chapters.