It had been six years since Negan was killed, but the memory of it still haunted Beth Greene like it was yesterday. In her dreams mostly, which is why in that moment she sat up abruptly from a deep sleep and placed a hand against her racing heart. It was the very place Negan had been struck - the only difference being that hers was still beating, and his was not.
When would the nightmares end? Probably never. She'd lived a lifetime's worth of them by now. Enough to have them all played back for her on an endless loop while she slept. It wasn't every night - thank god - and not so often that she became numb to it all, but just enough so that it still stung. The communities had been at peace for long enough that Beth was finally starting to feel human again, but still… she never forgot all of the terrible things she'd been forced to do in order to survive. Before life became somewhat normal again, living behind walls. Before her daughter was born, and even a little while after.
Abby would be six years old in June. It was now April. Spring hugged its cool breezes and soft sunrises around Alexandria like a familiar blanket. Evidence of life and growth could be found all around them, from the sprouting crops that filled the gardens behind every home, to the families playing with children in the center of town. This was everything Beth had wanted for her future. For her, and for Daryl. They, and everyone else, had successfully built something wonderful together. A community full of opportunity. Proof that there was indeed an after.
Beth's sudden movements had stirred Daryl from his sleep. He reached behind him, feeling blindly for contact with his wife. When he found it, he let his hand rest on her thigh under the covers. His fingers squeezed lightly.
"Y'okay?" he grumbled, head still buried in the pillow.
She leaned down to brush a mop of dark hair behind his ear and planted a kiss to his temple. "Bad dream," she whispered. "Can't go back to sleep."
She traced her index finger up and down the length of his bicep, and he shivered. Beth liked waking up before Daryl. She liked seeing him in such a vulnerable state, eyes closed to the world, expression calm and content. Not on guard. No lines of tension on his face. Just relaxed muscles and sleepy movements. He was adorable… and sexy as hell.
Beth rested her chin on the back of his shoulder and molded her body against his. She continued running her fingers lightly along his skin, and she watched as goosebumps appeared in their wake. Her hand roamed further along his arm, down to his waist, across his stomach. She nibbled at his shoulder blades. He was definitely awake now. She could feel his muscles tighten in response to her touch.
"Roll over," she pleaded innocently, and he did so without any further coaxing.
Daryl's eyes were open but heavy. He kissed her, so soft and so slow that Beth's entire body began to shiver. His took his time with her mouth, savoring her lips like a delicacy. She hooked her leg over his hip pressed into him, desperate for how hard he was. There wasn't much keeping him from her. Just his boxers and her thin cotton panties that were now coated with her lust for him. He reached under the over-sized T-shirt that covered her breasts and grazed a thumb over her puckered nipple. Her blood sang in her veins. She could just catch the beginnings of sunlight from the corner of her eye, but she forced her lids closed and let herself be completely consumed by Daryl.
Her small moans had been enough to signal that she was done with foreplay, so he slid out of his boxers. He pulled her underwear down, and she discarded them. Then, he positioned his arm beneath the crook of her knee, giving himself the space to slip inside her. Beth let her head fall back against the pillow and gasped. Daryl's pressed his forehead against her chest and moved his hips to a slow and tantalizing rhythm. She was consumed. Being with him was like a drug. Pure euphoria. She'd never shared such a deep connection with anyone besides Daryl. He was her partner. The tether to her soul. Her husband. Beth understood every gesture, every facial expression. They could speak without words. They were talking right now. Every movement Daryl made communicated how much he loved her, and she soaked it in like sunshine.
He came with a surge and a shudder, and Beth let the intoxication wash over her. They'd been trying to have another baby for the past year. Maybe this time it would work.
"I think this time might have done something," she teased, catching her breath.
Daryl kissed her again, and then made to sit on the edge of the bed. "Just keep layin' there like that. Give 'em time to swim upstream."
She smacked him playfully on the back, but remained where she was.
Daryl pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of pants. "While you work on that one," he said, "I'm gonna check on the other one." He smiled, and then left the room.
It was time for another recruiting run with Aaron. Once a month, the two of them ventured outside the gates of Alexandria in search of more people to bring into the fold. People that needed help and would be valuable assets to the community. In their travels over the past few years, Daryl had brought back quite a few new additions to the Safe Zone, most recently a small group that had been on their own after their old community fell. There were five of them: Connie, Kelly, Magna, Yumiko, and Luke. Personally, Daryl had become closest with the two sisters, Connie and Kelly, due to the extended time they spent with Beth after first arriving. Connie was deaf, and to everyone's surprise, Beth was the only one in Alexandria that remembered a bit of sign language. After that, she found a book at the Kingdom library and studied every day for weeks, learning the alphabet and whatever signs Connie taught her. Daryl wasn't sure there was much Beth couldn't do, but whenever she set her mind to something, she was damn near unstoppable.
Luke had taken to learning her way around the fields with Maggie. She oversaw all the agricultural aspects of Alexandria, and it turned out that Luke had a knack for making things grow. He was even able to share information about a new place to find seeds for future crops, and they'd all taken a trip into D.C. to retrieve them. Along with that, they recovered a fully functioning plow and spare parts for vehicles. They were strictly sans-gasoline now, but they were well off with horses and had converted most of the cars into wagons. Yumiko and Magna pulled their weight as well. They often accompanied Glenn on supply runs and even helped Rick rebuild the bridge leading to Hilltop that had collapsed during an unruly summer storm. All five of the newcomers had integrated well into the community, proving to Daryl that he'd made the right decision - looking for people.
Now, however, it was time to show them the rest of the new world. They'd yet to be introduced to anyone in the other communities, but after hearing about Hilltop extensively, they were finally going to see it with their own eyes. A trip to the Kingdom would come later that summer, for Ezekiel was planning a fair for all three communities to partake in, something Daryl was still trying to wrap his brain around. But for now, they were headed to see Jesus.
They pulled up to the gate and were greeted by a couple of watchmen standing guard.
Aaron called up to them and yelled, "We're here to see Jesus. We brought some new people with us."
The men on watch looked at one another skeptically. Too hesitant for Daryl's liking. It had been over a year since he visited Hilltop. As far as he knew, Jesus was still in charge. But Daryl also knew how quickly things could change.
They gates opened and they were ushered inside. They were greeted by familiar faces. Tara and Rosita welcomed them in with open arms. Daryl hugged them both, and he watched as Tara's eyes landed excitedly on their guests.
"Who do we have here?" she questioned eagerly.
"New recruits," Aaron spoke. "They've been with us for a couple of months now, feeling things out. We thought it was time to introduce them to the rest of us."
Rosita smiled, looking each of the strangers up and down, then said, "We're glad to have you. If you like it here, we could definitely use them help."
Tara frowned. "We've been struggling since the storm killed most of our crops," she admitted. "And since Jesus has been gone-"
"Gone?" Daryl cut her off. "What d'you mean?"
"He went out four days ago," Rosita explained. "We don't know what happened."
"It was just for patrols," Tara added solemnly. "He should've been back by now."
"Have you sent anyone after him?" Aaron asked.
Tara nodded. "I was about to go just before you got here."
Daryl grabbed his pack from the wagon and slung it over his shoulder. "I'm going with you," he determined, crossbow still hand.
"Me too."
It was Magna, and they all turned simultaneously to face her.
"Let me help," she beseeched. "I'm good at tracking."
Aaron placed a hand on Daryl's shoulder. "Let her go. I'll stay here with the others."
Daryl nodded and gestured for Magna to follow. Then the two of them, along with Tara, set out for the perimeter.
Back at Alexandria, Beth was consumed with an onslaught of sick patients. The change in seasons had introduced a bout of sickness to the town, most of which consisted of minor head colds with which she treated using elderberries. A spoonful a day typically did the trick, but there were a few lingering cases that had progressed in severity. There were now five people showing signs of fever and nausea, including Jessie. Beth knew she would have to keep Abby away, especially now that she herself was exposed to whatever virus this now was, therefore, Maggie had taken up babysitting duty.
Beth had been in the infirmary most of the morning when Michonne stepped in with an interesting expression. It was the oddest mixture of grim hope, and Beth wasn't sure what to make of it until she followed her to the church and found a compelling surprise.
Sitting in the pews was a cluster of children ranging in age from toddlers to 10 year olds. They were huddled around an older girl that looked to be about Beth's age - in her 20s at least. She was pale with bright red hair and freckled skin. She and the children were covered in grime. Their clothes were tattered from being on the road. They looked hungry and afraid. When the girl turned to look at them, Beth's jaw dropped.
Never in a million years did Beth think she'd ever find someone from before. But the girl was right in front of her. Some one she'd went to high school with. They were friends. They had been, before the world went to shit. They'd had sleepovers together at the farmhouse. They'd braided each other's hair.
"Jackie?" Beth gasped.
Michonne looked from Beth to the girl, then back again. "You know her?" she questioned.
The redhead peered quizzically at Beth for several seconds because placing the pieces of recognition together in her mind. "Well damn," she let out in astonishment. "If it isn't Beth Greene."