Okay, so this story has all of our favourite characters in it, however some of the family dynamics have changed. This is particularly the case for Beth, she is an only child whose mother has died and she was sent to live with her father Simon.

Hershel has no children, him and his wife were unable to have children.

There is also only a year in age between Daryl and Beth.

The personalities have not been changed.

Hope you enjoy and I would love any feedback on this first chapter.

Chapter 1

Looking up at the simple brick house that stood in front of her, Enid couldn't seem to differentiate anything about it that set it apart from all of the other houses that she'd frequented over the years. It had the usual brick bottomed base with wooden top that towered over two floors and an attic, the window shutters painted in a homey colour whilst the main colour of the build was a warm white. A usual house design that frequented the area.

Enid was a carer, she had been for nearly three years now and whilst it was a difficult job it was one that she'd come to enjoy immensely. Caring wasn't something she'd considered as a job when she finished high-school, it had just happened, and whilst most people would find the prospect of looking after others in their later years difficult or taxing, Enid loved every minute of it.

She was the type of person that enjoyed meeting and being with others, but it was the stories that many of her patients disclosed to her, over her time with them, that she enjoyed the most. There was just something about listening to their war stories or how they came to live in Georgia that filled her mind with adventure but usually, her favourite story had to be the one of love and romance. It was always the one story she could count on hearing, regardless of whether her patient was male or female.

Shaking her head, she smoothed down her work tunic before stepping along the small stone path that led to the large porch that ran the full length of the front of the house.

Her last patient had moved to be closer to her daughter leaving Enid to finger through files of waiting patients that her boss always had waiting in her office. She had spent only a few minutes looking over each patients requirements before settling on the one that had brought her to this property; Hershel Greene.

She recalled her boss speaking with the man's daughter who confirmed that she'd needed to take on two jobs to be able to provide the care that the man needed. It seemed that Hershel Greene required end-of-life care after being diagnosed with cancer and his family could no longer meet his needs themselves hence, their advert for a carer to help out when they were at work.

Sucking in a breath and hooking a piece of stray hair behind her ear she knocked on the door. After standing for several minutes she raised her hand to knock again when the sound of footsteps from within reached her ears.

A woman, no more older than herself, opened the door. Her blonde hair was in disarray, some tucked into a band that was once a ponytail with the rest dangling down as if she had only just got up. Big blue eyes sparkled as a kind smile lit the young woman's face, as a small baby around a year old bounced on her hip.

"Hey, you must be Enid" Enid nodded at the proclamation, and the woman flushed obviously registering her appearance in her mind "I'm sorry" the woman explained "this little one decided to keep me up all night and then proceeded to throw her oats around this mornin' as if she was paintin' my kitchen"

Enid chuckled as the woman's own laugh tinkled before her eyes widened, "look at me keepin' y' at the door" the woman's hand gestured for Enid to enter as she stepped back against the wall to allow her to pass "I'm Beth" she explained before shifting the child that was now squirming in her arms.

Looking around at the small hallway, Enid noticed several photo's lining the wall and smiled at the happy faces that were grinning or laughing when the photo was taken.

"C'mon" Beth offered, pulling her gaze away from the memories that covered the walls, "Let me introduce y' to Hershel"

Enid followed behind as they walked slightly down the hall before climbing the stairs to the second floor. The baby cooed and giggled over Beth's shoulder as the woman in front of her climbed the steps.

"Hershel?" Beth questioned as she knocked on the man's bedroom door, "Enid's here"

Enid smiled as Beth turned back to face her with her own small smile. They could both hear the telltale signs of footsteps sluggishly moving across the wooden floor of the bedroom.

"Listen Enid" Beth started, "I've gotta go get this one changed and then head off to work" Enid was already nodding in response, having read the schedule several times prior to arriving, "why don't ya go on in and I'll pop by before I head out" Beth offered before tapping her arm gently as she took her leave back down the way they had just arrived. After she disappeared from view, Enid took a breath and twisted the handle before entering the room.

From the file she'd read, Hershel Greene had cancer and had been diagnosed nearly a year before. He'd received treatment and was in remission when he'd been given the devastating news that it had returned aggressively and there was nothing more that could be done. A lot of her previous patients had also passed of some illness or another, but when she spotted Hershel standing at the large bay window, looking out into the sun that lined the streets below, she didn't see a man that was ill, she saw a man that wanted to live.

Placing her bag and sweater on the chair near the door, she eased her way into the room until she stood next to him. She watched him jump slightly as he caught her presence from the corner of his eye before he turned to her with a grimace.

Turning to face the room, he gripped his walking stick as he started to make his way unsteadily across the space towards an old reclining chair. She moved to aid him into his chair but stopped when he waved a hand in her direction. A lot of her patients liked to do things for themselves, at least until they were no longer able to, so she decided to move at Hershel's pace. Knowing that it often helped with the transition of having a carer when doing it this way.

There was an awkward silence as Enid milled around the room, making the bed and tidying up the small bathroom that was attached the man bedroom, before grabbing the pill boxes from her bag to sort out Hershel's medication as per his file. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked around the room completing her tasks until a knock on the door sounded, pulling both of their heads towards the source of the visitor.

Beth poked around the door before slipping inside. Her hair was now neatly brushed into a ponytail with a braid running through it on one side, the clothes that were once covered in splatters of oatmeal now exchanged for the signature peach uniform of Karen's Café, a local fifty's inspired diner in town, and a now clean child sat on her hip.

"How's things going?" she asked them both causing Hershel and Enid to look at one another. Enid could see the telltale sign on Hershel's face that he didn't want her help and her thoughts were confirmed as he looked back to Beth.

"I told y' Beth, I don't need a carer. I can manage jus' fine on my own"

It was obviously a conversation they had often and she could see the look of exasperation on the young woman's face. "I know y' don't" Beth placated. Hershel began to smile as if Beth was finally starting to see reason, "But" she continued and his face fell, "When I can't be here, I would feel better knowin' ya not on your own"

Hershel scowled and crossed his arms over his chest as Beth moved towards him, "Please" she whispered, "jus' see how it goes today and if it don't work out then we'll leave it, okay?"

"No more carers?" Hershel quizzed.

Beth chuckled at the man's elation, "I promise, no more carers"

Looking back in Enid's direction, she froze under Hershel's stare as if he was silently communicating for her not to get too comfortable before turning back to Beth, his scowl lessening, "Fine" he agreed before holding up his arms for the child that was now reaching towards him, "now let me kiss my granddaughter before you leave"

Beth complied and leant down with the small girl, allowing Hershel to kiss her baby's soft hair gently. Watching the old man, she was surprised at the gentleness she saw from him at that moment compared to how he'd only minutes ago been glaring at her.

"Right" Beth stated as she stood up "I should get goin' or I'm gonna be late for work"

Hershel's face fell slightly at the comment and for a moment Enid understood. It wasn't that he didn't want a carer, he just didn't want to see his daughter work so hard to have to pay for him to have one.

"Now you make sure you're good today, ya hear?" Beth announced.

"Annie's always good at day care" Hershel replied as he smiled at the small child, now known as Annie, in Beth's arms.

Beth leant forward and placed her own gentle kiss on Hershel's forehead before admitting, "I was talkin' about you"

At the comment, Hershel flushed deep red and Enid allowed a chuckle to break free; no matter what the old man had just been told, he would try and be anything but good.

When Beth reached the door she stopped to look back at them both, a small smile playing at her lips, "I should be back around five" she confirmed before leaving them alone once again.

Enid eventually took out her notebook and sat down in the available chair on Hershel's right side. She could see him watching her like a hawk, a small frown pulling at his mouth. Like she would with any of her patients, she started her usual questions about likes and dislikes, activities he might like to do or try, along with any other information her patients usually liked to divulge.

It was difficult and Hershel was a very closed off man, if she suggested something he would just scoff or grunt but she still saw it as productive, and continued to make notes that would help them in the long run.

"Would you like me to start your lunch now?" Enid enquired when she noticed that they were already halfway through the day.

Instead of answering, Hershel just looked the other way, once again looking towards the window where the sun now shone high in the sky. As she watched him, she noticed a longing look fleet over his face and an idea occurred.

"Would you like to help me prepare lunch?" she tried again.

At her question Hershel's head snapped in her direction, a confused look on his face. Since they had been given the news of his illness being terminal, they had tried out at least six different carers and none of them had lasted more than a day. It's not that he didn't want or need the help, it was the fact that Beth had to work so hard to provide him this when she had a child that was growing fast and missing out on her momma.

Inadvertently, he had tried to be difficult, which resulted in his carers leaving. He'd hoped that if enough of them quit, that Beth would rethink things and they would work out something else. However, she was as stubborn as he was and every time a carer quit she would just start hunting for the next one.

None of the carer's he'd had ever asked him to help, they just took one look at his file and deemed it that he was incapable which is why they had been employed.

"You'd let me help?" He asked unsure.

Enid leant forwards and smiled, "of course, we both got to eat don't we"

Allowing her to help him from his chair and down the stairs to the kitchen, he sat at the table that was housed in the small room as Enid placed some tomatoes, a knife and a cutting board in front of him. He immediately began to chop as she prepared the rest of their sandwiches; each of them working in silence.

Sitting at the table as they ate their food, Enid allowed her eyes to wander around the room before her gaze fell on a photo frame that housed a picture of two small children. She recognised the girl to be Beth, the same familiar blonde hair of her childhood following her into adulthood, but frowned slightly at the boy she didn't recognise.

Recalling the information in the file, she was sure it made no mention of Hershel having a son.

"Is that your son?" Enid asked as she gestured to the photo in question.

Hershel's eyes widened before he turned in his seat to see what she was pointing at. The lines around his eyes crinkled as his smile grew, he hadn't seen that photograph since his diagnosis; since he'd locked himself away from the world.

Memories assaulted him as he took in the grainy, sun damaged picture of his past before the smile fell and he turned back the young woman that sat with him at the table.

"Me and my wife, Annette, were not blessed with children" he admitted.

Enid was confused, his file had said he had a daughter and she'd met her on her arrival, "But Beth?" she started only for Hershel to begin shaking his head.

"Beth isn't my daughter, although she may as well be for all intents and purposes"

"I'm sorry" Enid rushed, "I just assumed…"

Hershel waved her off, she had assumed just like so many did.

Looking back to the photo and then back to the man, she smiled, "You've got a story there, haven't you?

Hershel looked at her with wide eyes. Not one carer before her had taken as much time talking to him as she did. Usually they would just come in and tell him about how shitty their life was and how much they hated their job, but for some reason the girl that looked at him with anticipation wanted to hear his story.

Knowing Hershel was torn on whether to divulge his tales, she reached over and squeezed his hand reassuringly, "I've got the ears, if you've got the time" she offered.

She assumed he'd shut her down completely judging from his earlier aittitude, so when he patted her hand with his free one before gesturing to the other room, she schooled the surprise look that crossed her face before helping him from his seat.

After getting him comfortable she held up a finger, signalling she needed one moment, before darting back into the kitchen to quickly tidy up. By the time she re-entered the cosy lounge Hershel was smiling as he held a photo album on his blanket covered legs.

Taking the seat next to her, he flipped open the album and pointed to the same photo that they'd seen in the kitchen.

"They were just six and seven the first time they met" he explained, "Beth's mother had passed and she'd been shipped off to live with her father at Woodbury Trailer Park"

Enid knew of trailer park's, there were rumours about the people that resided in them and how they was mostly full of lowlifes and drug dealers. She couldn't imagine going to one as an adult, let alone living in one as a child.

She watched as Hershel rubbed his thumb gently over the picture. Laying a hand gently on his arm, which caused him to look at her before continuing.

"Simon, Beth's father, was not a nice man. He saw that girl as more of a hindrance than a gift from god. She'd only been living with him for four months the first time he hit her"

Beth swayed backwards and forwards as the wind blew the swing that she sat on. Feeling a slight chill in the air, she burrowed down into her thin white cardigan that covered her favourite yellow gingham dress.

Her legs hung limply as she gripped the chain to keep herself still, her other arm cradled against her chest to ease the aching throb from where Simon had grabbed her earlier, before pushing her outside as his friends arrived.

She'd only been living with him for four months and already she'd been treated as little more than a slave. He often woke her to clean their small trailer or to make him breakfast, her only respite was school.

Although she was only six and had never had to complete the chores that she now ran through daily, she was learning as fast as possible to adjust and now she realised to avoid the pain if she wasn't as quick as he'd like.

Hearing a twig snap again from within the woods in front of her, Beth looked up as the cold wind blew across her face, making her tear tracks sting with the cooling temperatures.

"I know you're there" she called "you can come out. It's not like I'm gonna hurt you"

Daryl had been sitting in the woods for hours since his dad had arrived home drunk yet again. It was becoming a repeat that happened at least every other day and taking his brother's words, he often took off into the woods to avoid being on the receiving end of his father's fists.

He'd heard from the other kids that lived in the trailer park that a new girl had arrived but had never caught a glimpse of her until she'd ran out of Simon Davies' trailer straight for the swing set that was council approved.

For a moment he couldn't move as he watched her struggle to mount the swing seat. He'd seen the wince on her face when she jostled her arm and knew she likely took the same beatings him and many of the other kids did that lived at Woodbury Trailer Park.

He didn't think he'd ever seen anything so clean before and swore that the white of her cardigan made her look like an angel straight out of heaven.

Remembering everything his brother had taught him, he'd hunkered down as quietly as possible and enjoyed just watching her as she swayed slightly each time the wind blew, which is why when she called out to him, he jumped.

Standing, he brushed himself off before stepping through the bush into the clearing that sat in front of the swings. He watched as her eyes went wide and a small smile floated across her face before she turned and gestured to the empty swing next to her.

Gingerly moving forward, he turned and gripped each metal chain before heaving himself up and on to the seat.

"I'm Beth" her small voice whispered from next to him.

As he turned to face her, it felt as though his heart stopped. He hadn't been able to see before as he was too far away but now he was close he could see that her eyes were the blue colour of ice and the ocean.

He heard her giggle before a blush spread across her cheeks, making him realise that he hadn't responded.

Looking down at the ground, he toed the dirt before grumbling "Daryl" under his breath in response.

Beth kept looking out of the corner of her eye at the young boy next to her. She made sure to keep her movements small as he seemed skittish and nervous. She certainly didn't want to frighten her first proper friend off.

They sat side by side swinging silently in the wind for hours when the sky began to darken and small snow flakes began to fall. Neither of them had spoken since announcing their names, they were simply happy just to have one another's company.

When Daryl heard his brother hollering his name, he jumped off the swing and walked back towards the other trailer's, pausing when he reached the edge to look back at his new friend. He saw her shiver as she watched his movements and before he could consider his thoughts, he stripped off his small flannel shirt, leaving him in just a t-shirt, before jogging over and draping it around her shoulders. A smirk pulling at his young mouth as she pulled it tighter around her small body.

His brother's voice was closer the next time he called his name and Daryl turned his head in the general direction.

Beth released the cold chain from her grip and leant forward to place a small hand on Daryl's arm in gratitude. Just because someone was calling him, didn't mean she would be able to return home just yet.

As her fingers skimmed his skin, he looked down at where they touched before looking back to her small face.

"Thank you Daryl" she whispered before releasing him.

He offered a nod before running back to the edge of the first trailer. She felt her shoulders slump as he disappeared from view only to jump when he popped his head back around a few seconds later to look in her direction; as if she would've disappeared the moment he could no longer see her.

"I'll be here tomorrow" Beth yelled loud enough for him to hear before he slipped away to head home.

Hershel closed the photo album and glanced at Enid, who looked back at him with confusion, "Why are you stopping?" she questioned.

"Because, you are gonna help me prepare dinner for Beth and Annie gettin' home" he explained as he inclined his head towards the clock. Enid was shocked, she had been so involved in Hershel's story that she'd completely lost track of time.

Standing and stretching out her legs, Enid offered a hand to Hershel and watched as he placed the photo album back on the small side table next to him before reaching for her outstretched hand.

Pulling him to his feet, she stood still earning a frown from him at her unmoving form, "I'll do you a deal" she proposed "I'll let you help me prepare dinner, as long as you let me come back tomorrow"

She could see the man thinking over her words before a smile crossed his face. Nodding once in agreement, he gripped his walking stick and moved an unsteady step forward.

Enid walked slowly alongside him towards the kitchen before helping him back into the chair he'd sat at earlier. Moving to the fridge, she began taking out different ingredients that Hershel called out to her before setting them on the table and counter for them to start prepping.

Handing him a knife to cut up some mushrooms, she pulled it back before he took it from her grasp and smiled "you can also tell me some more about Beth and Daryl tomorrow, seeing as I'm coming back"

He smirked at the bargain she offered before snatching the knife from her hand and moved to start dinner as they had agreed.

…

Beth had worried about Hershel and Enid all day and she hoped that he wasn't making the poor girl's day difficult. For some reason, she had a good feeling about Enid and only hoped that Hershel would open up to Enid as he had once done with her when she was just a little girl.

As she manoeuvred the stroller along her stone pathway, she sighed at the sore muscles and tiredness she felt in her bones. Hopefully, Annie would sleep better tonight seeing as she hadn't napped at all at day care.

Lifting her daughter into her arms, she stepped into the house and dropped her bag to the floor from her shoulder with a thud as she took in the scent of food cooking.

Frowning, she headed towards the kitchen where she found Hershel sitting at the table talking about music with Enid. For a moment she stood and watched the man that had become a father to her over the years discussing his favourite songs like he'd done with herself several years ago.

Enid turned from where dinner was almost ready and spotted Beth by the door, "Hey, you're back" she announced causing Hershel to turn in Beth's direction.

For the first time in many months Beth spotted a familiar smile lining the man's face and felt her own widening in response.

"I hope you don't mind" Enid explained as she walked towards Beth, gesturing a hand to the cooking, "Hershel wanted to make dinner for you"

Beth looked back at Hershel who nodded slightly in agreement before turning back to Enid, "No, not at all" she replied, "It smells so good and I'm sure I could pretty much eat a horse at this point in time"

Enid laughed as Beth moved to look over what they were cooking. Turning back to the woman who now lingered where she'd just stood at the door, Beth enquired "Would ya like to stay for dinner?"

Shaking her head, Enid smiled gratefully, "I'd love to, but my boyfriend, Alden, is cooking and I should be going"

Beth watched as Hershel's smile fell at the same time as her own, it wasn't often they received guests, "oh" Beth responded.

"But, Hershel and I could cook again tomorrow" Enid winked in the man's direction to remind him of their deal.

Both Hershel and Beth agreed that they would be happy for Enid to stay on after work the next day to join them for dinner as long as she didn't mind staying after hours. It was a few moments later that Beth walked her to the door to see her out.

"I don't know what y' did today, Enid, but I haven't seen Hershel this happy in months" Beth explained.

Enid smiled and said her goodbyes before heading down the stone path she had nervously walked up that very morning. When she reached her car, parked on the street, she looked back at the house and knew Hershel Greene's story had only just begun.