Beth liked to consider herself a level-headed person.
Ever since she was a little girl, she had always tried her best to be the mediator in high-stress environments. Always wanting to understand both sides and be as forgiving as she was able. Now, the events that can occur in an apocalypse will more than likely change a person. Beth is an obvious example of that. Even so, she tried her best to be patient and understanding, while simultaneously being ruthless and unforgiving when she had to be in this new world.
All that being said, she was going to strangle Daryl Dixon.
Beth yawned, wrapping a worn blanket tighter around her body as she sat on the floor in front of the fireplace in the den, Dog curled up beside her as she stared into the flames. Thinking about Daryl made her so irritated.
It had been two months since they'd spoken. Two months since he left without saying goodbye. Two months since she'd seen Lydia. And she was pissed.
Lydia had at least come to say goodbye to her the day they left for the Kingdom, with Henry walking beside her. And she'd asked them if they'd seen Daryl, to which they responded that they had not, but they were sure he'd come and see her before they departed.
He hadn't.
She should have known. As soon as his lips met the skin of her forehead, showing one of the simplest forms of affection, and he'd jumped away and ran for the door, only pausing to tell her goodnight...she should have known he'd bolt without seeing her before he left for the Kingdom.
She supposed there were some things that the end of the world would never change.
And so, Beth spent two months alone, slowly but surely recovering her strength, her broken bones mending themselves. Her bruises had long-since faded away; her cuts had healed, leaving behind fresh scars on her pale flesh. She was walking on her own without crutches, and any pain she felt in her ribs was minimal; only aching if she over-exerted herself. Yessiree, Beth was pretty much back to normal. And she was grateful; having grown sick and tired of feeling like an invalid and having to ask others for help.
It was especially difficult when those others were extremely wary of her.
Word had gotten around that Beth had been one of them, and despite the residents of Alexandria knowing that she'd tried to save their own people, she was an outcast. She didn't let it bother her though; not only was she used to being on her own, but she had managed to make a couple of friends in those two months.
The first, and possibly her most cherished, was little Judith Grimes.
Daryl and the others had been gone for two days, and Beth had spent those two days by herself in the infirmary, her only company being Siddiq when he checked her injuries and changed her bandages, or when he brought her meals to her. For the most part, however, she was alone.
Two days of silence.
She had been sitting up in bed, a worn book of poetry resting on her lap, reading in the early morning light while she waited for Siddiq to return with her breakfast. She had vaguely registered the sound of a door opening and closing, but she knew it wasn't him, from the lack of greeting.
"If you're looking for Siddiq, he's not here." She informed whoever had walked in, her eyes never leaving the book.
"Good thing I'm not looking for him, then." A light, girlish little voice responded, and Beth's gaze instantly snapped up, meeting the chocolate-colored eyes of a young girl.
And she knew.
Without even asking her name, she knew who it was. As if the sheriff's hat atop her head wasn't a dead giveaway.
"Judith." She said, her voice breathless from surprise.
"How'd you know my name?" Judith asked, tilting her head as she stepped into the room. Beth just gave her a soft smile.
"Lucky guess." Judith pursed her lips, her hands resting on her waist. God, she looked so much like Lori.
"Uncle Daryl asked me to watch over you and keep you safe." Hearing Daryl's name made her chest ache, but she ignored it in favor of quirking a brow.
"That's a pretty big job for someone your age."
"I'm tougher than I look."
"I don't doubt that for a second." Beth couldn't fight the warm smile that had taken over her face. Seeing Judith alive and well made her so happy, she couldn't even deny it. Because despite the shit world they all lived in, Judith had made it. She was born into this world, and Beth knew Judith would be one of the few to live to see society be rebuilt.
It was silent for a few moments, neither really sure what to say, until Judith broke the silence.
"Whatcha reading?" She asked, walking over to the chair beside Beth's bed and dropping down, her legs swinging back and forth.
"Just a book of poetry. Have you ever read any?" Judith scrunched up her nose and shook her head, and Beth chuckled softly.
"Would you like to read some?" The brunette hesitated for a split second, before holding her hands out to take the book from Beth.
"I'm not the best at reading, even though Mom makes me practice a lot."
"That's okay, we'll take our time. Here-" Beth flipped back a few pages, looking for an easy piece that Judith could read, "-try reading this one." Judith looked at the title, and cleared her throat, holding the book close to her face as she slowly began to sound out the words.
"Because I could not stop for Death…"
Beth and Judith had made it a new tradition to read a poem or two together at least once a day. And after, Judith would help Beth make her way towards the dining hall so that she could get out of the infirmary and get some exercise. And even when Beth was able to walk on her own, Judith still insisted on walking over with her, stating that she had made a promise to her Uncle Daryl, although it was apparent that she simply enjoyed spending time with Beth.
But despite how much she loved Judith's company, she wasn't the only person she'd become acquainted with. She had also been introduced to Eugene Porter and Rosita Espinoza, the latter who was very pregnant.
It'd already been a month since Daryl had left without saying goodbye. Beth tried not to let it bother her. Instead, she tried to keep herself busy. Her ribs were almost totally healed, and her bruises and cuts were pretty much gone. She was still sore on occasion, but nothing she couldn't tolerate. So, she began helping out in the infirmary, grinding medicinal herbs for Siddiq and organizing the medicine pantry. And when that was done, she'd go over to Michonne's house to visit Judith and take Dog for a walk with her and RJ.
It was one of the days that she was in the pantry taking stock when Rosita and Eugene walked in the infirmary.
"Siddiq?" Beth heard a female voice call. Sighing, she heaved herself into a standing position and slowly made her way towards the front of the house. Her footsteps alerted the two new arrivals to her presence. Beth took a moment to study the pregnant Latino woman, noticing the exhaustion in her face and paleness of her skin, making it obvious what she had come for.
"He's out on a call, won't be back for an hour at least." The woman cursed under her breath, heaving a sigh.
"Well, when he shows up will you politely inform him that the life inside Rosita is causing her undue amounts of nausea and that she seeks an effective herb to remedy it." Beth looked at the man with the braid in bewilderment, needing a moment to process what he'd just said. The Latino, Rosita, rolled her eyes and rubbed her forehead.
"What Eugene is trying to say, is that I'm about ready to hurl and need something to calm my stomach." She explained, clearly used to the man's weird drawl.
"Oh." Beth murmured, glancing over her shoulder in the direction of the pantry, before looking back at Rosita. "I can help you, if you want." Rosita looked hesitant.
"Do you know anything about medicinal herbs?"
"I know enough to know that mint or ginger will help calm your stomach." She declared, shrugging one shoulder as she spoke. "Sit down, I'll go make you some mint tea. It'll help."
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Rosita asked as she made her way to sit on a bed in the infirmary. Beth shook her head, telling her to get comfortable while she made the tea. Eugene, however, followed right behind Beth as she walked back to the pantry and got out a jar of mint leaves and headed for the kitchen. She could feel his gaze on her back, making her uncomfortable. Sighing in mild annoyance, she turned to the strange man.
"Did you need something?" Eugene stared at her, not bothering to respond, but his eyes flicked up to the scar along her hairline, and his eyes narrowed.
"I daresay I remember you." Beth glanced at him over her shoulder while she filled a kettle with water and put it on the stove.
"Well unfortunately, I can't say the same."
"No, it would appear not. Taking a load of metal to the cranium, however, would be an acceptable excuse as to your lack of recollection." His statement made Beth pause; her hand frozen in the air as she had been reaching for a coffee mug. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed a mug and set it on the counter before she whirled around to look at him.
"How did you know?" Despite it being a question, her tone left no room for avoiding answering.
"I was there." Beth's jaw dropped; surprise evident on her face.
"You…you were there?" Eugene nodded, then proceeded to launch into a detailed explanation of how he came to be a part of her old group and how they'd been heading for Washington, but had made a detour with the others to rescue her, and how it'd been too late. He also recalled her sister having a meltdown and being inconsolable, and that it'd taken them a number of hell-ish weeks before they came across Alexandria.
Beth was frozen, completely taken off-guard. Daryl had never told her about what happened after they left the hospital; he hadn't wanted her to know how much they'd all been suffering…how much he'd been suffering. She just stood there, staring at him. They'd been silent for so long that when the kettle started to whistle, Beth almost jumped in fright. Turning away, she got to work making the mug of tea for Rosita and then striding past Eugene, not bothering to respond to him.
"Here, drink this and then go home and rest for a bit. If you're able to eat anything, keep it to simple and dry foods, at least until the nausea fades." Rosita nodded, thanking her. Beth excused herself and headed back to the pantry to replace the mint leaves and finish taking stock of the medicine. After about ten minutes, she heard somebody approaching her and lifted her head to see who it was. Realizing it was Eugene again, she stared at him, waiting for him to speak.
"I realize that I have a tendency to be a bit of an enigma, and I'd like to offer my apologies for making you appear visibly distraught. It was not my intention." Beth's lip quirked up, trying not to laugh at this odd human. Eugene was clearly one-of-a-kind.
"It's alright, no hard feelings." She replied, and Eugene released a breath, his shoulders sagging in relief.
"Oh, Rosita said to thank you again for the tea. She also said to invite you to join us at dinner this evening, or when you're available." Beth considered the offer before nodding her head.
"I'd love to, as long as I can bring a friend."
Beth had, in fact, sat with Eugene and Rosita that night, Judith coming along as well. And that had also become a regular occurrence for her. She couldn't deny that it was nice to have people to talk to casually, having been used to giving orders or following them when she was still a part of the Whisperers. The only "relationship" she really had was her arrangement with Beta. She did have Lydia, but that was more of a sisterly-bond, though she'd never deny that they were close, nor would she trade her for anything in the world.
Thinking about Lydia made her frown; she missed her. Two months was the longest amount of time she'd gone without seeing the fiery teen in all the years she's known her. Beth could only hope that Lydia was doing alright.
Releasing a heavy sigh, Beth pulled herself to her feet and walked out of the den towards the infirmary. She was alone at the moment; Siddiq had gone to check on Rosita. She stepped up to the frosted window and leaned against the frame, looking up at the gray sky. There was a storm rolling in, the snow had already started falling. She'd have to hunker down with Dog and keep the fire going so they stayed warm. Peering around, the streets of Alexandria were pretty much deserted, nobody was outside.
Well, obviously they weren't.
Although that left her wondering, where was Judith? And RJ, for that matter.
Suddenly filled with concern, Beth stepped back from the window and tossed her blanket onto her bed and headed for the hall closet. Opening the creaky door, she pulled out a heavy coat and put it on, then dug around until she managed to find a crocheted hat to hopefully keep her head warm. She shut the closet door and whistled for Dog, who immediately came prancing to her, tail wagging.
"Let's go find the kids, bud." She murmured to the German Shepherd, scratching behind his ears.
Together, they left the infirmary and walked into the polar temperatures, heading straight to Michonne's house. Despite knowing that the samurai wasn't in Alexandria, she still wanted to check and see if the kids were there by chance. As she walked, the flurries started to fall in big, fat, clumps of white powder. That made her move quicker, and when she reached the house and pounded on the door, she could already tell that nobody was home. Stepping down the stairs back to the street, she looked down the road towards the other houses, her blue eyes squinting to try and see through the flakes that were steadily coming down. When she spotted what looked to be Siddiq, leading a man towards the town hall, Beth hollered.
"Siddiq!" Hearing his name, the man whipped around, not loosening his grip on the other man's forearm.
"Beth, there you are! I was just at the infirmary, but you were gone." He responded, standing in place while she jogged to catch up with him, Dog at her heel.
"I was looking for Judith and RJ, have you seen them?" Siddiq nodded, tilting his head in the direction of the town hall.
"We're hunkering down to stay warm. I volunteered to go and grab Negan from his cell." Beth's gaze moved towards the taller man with a gray beard, recalling her brief conversation with him when she was in the cell next to his.
"And I am mighty appreciative of you coming to my rescue, dear sir." Negan boasted, bowing his torso in mock-gratitude at Siddiq. Beth snorted, rolling her eyes. The action drew Negan's attention to her. "And I may be dreaming, but I do believe I recognize your voice, little lady." Beth only stared at him, lifting her eyebrow as if to say 'and your point is?'.
Not dignifying him with a response, Beth followed behind him and Siddiq as they made their way to the town hall, opening the door and shuffling in as quick as they could, trying to keep the cold out. As soon as she was inside with Dog, Beth spun on her heel and glanced around the room, seeing a few familiar faces.
"Beth!" Judith exclaimed, waving at her. Shoulders sagging in relief, she strode over to the little girl and her brother, dropping to her knees and hugging them both.
"I'm glad you're both safe. Where were you?" Beth questioned as she adjusted the hat atop RJ's curly head.
"We were at Gabriel and Rosita's house." Judith said, then her eyes trailed behind Beth and noticed the German Shepherd, and a smile bloomed on her face. "Hey, you found Dog!" Beth gave her a soft smile, glancing over her shoulder at the animal.
"He was keeping me company at the infirmary. Here," She moved to grab a blanket that was folded on the table beside them, "-wrap yourselves in this. You gotta keep warm, okay?"
"What about you?"
"Psh, I lived in the woods for years. A little snow isn't gonna bother me!" Moving to stand, Beth ordered Dog to stay with the kids while she walked across the room to Rosita and the others. The pregnant brunette lifted her head and smiled.
"Beth! I'm glad you're here. There's too much testosterone for me." She said while the women hugged. They stepped away from each other, and Beth noticed Eugene messing with a pile of wires. She turned towards Gabriel.
"Has anybody been able to reach Hilltop?" Gabriel merely shook his head negative, instead turning his attention towards Negan, whose smart-mouth was surely going to get him in trouble. She hid a laugh whenever Negan swore and Judith lectured him about it, causing the grown man to apologize.
"How are you feeling?" Beth asked Rosita, noticing the woman rubbing her lower back and wincing. Rosita huffed.
"My back is killing me. All this extra weight in my belly and being on my feet so much is exhausting." Beth gave her a sympathetic smile.
"I can look into making you an ointment for your back, it could help with the pain." Rosita's face showed her gratitude at the offer.
"That would be amazing, thank you Beth." Beth waved her off.
"Don't thank me, it's no problem..." Beth trailed off mid-sentence when a strange odor permeated the room, and she sniffed, trying but failing to identify it. She wasn't the only one who noticed.
"Anybody else smell somethin'?" Negan asked, his brow furrowed. Beth nodded her head as she continued to try and identify where and what the smell was.
"Could you stop being such an asshole?" Siddiq asked, his tone rhetorical. Rosita shook her head as she turned her body, looking around the room and wrinkling her nose.
"No, he's right, something does smell funky in here." She agreed, and Beth found herself wandering closer to the fireplace, the smell becoming stronger as she did so.
"Get away from there!"
Eugene's sudden shout startled her, and Beth spun on her heel as he rushed forward and grabbed Gabriel and Siddiq by the shoulders, yanking them back. She pushed Rosita farther away and tried to shield her body as best she could. The explosion of flames made everybody in the room drop to the floor and hide their heads.
Beth crouched with Rosita in front of her, her back to the fireplace as she waited a few seconds before slowly lifting her head. Peeking over her shoulder, she could see that the fire was out, shrouding the room in darkness.
"Is everybody okay?" Voices chimed in, but Beth ignored them and looked at Rosita, searching the stunned woman's face.
"Are you hurt?"
"No, no I'm good. Thanks." Beth nodded while slowly helping Rosita to stand up, making sure she was balanced before letting go.
"Judith, you guys alright?" Beth called over to the little brunette, who shot her a thumbs up; RJ copying the gesture. Beth sighed, her breath visible in the now-chilling room. She could vaguely hear Eugene's strange dialect as he informed Gabriel and Siddiq about the fireplace no longer being safe to use, and that the temperature would continue to drop.
"Alright, folks! Contingency plan; we're going to Aaron's house. It'll be tight quarters, but-" He shrugged, "-we'll make it work." Everybody nodded, started to head towards when Negan spoke up.
"Seriously? Not one of you assholes is gonna untie me?" His voice was incredulous, the irritation evident on his face. It was Rosita who replied.
"We could tell Michonne it was an accident."
Silence.
Beth looked at Judith, who was standing next to her brother and looking at Negan, a concerned look in her eyes. Swallowing down a groan, Beth stepped forward.
"I'll untie him."
"Beth, you don't have to-" Siddiq began, but she just brushed him off.
"It's fine. I can take him in a fight, easily. So he won't try anything stupid. Will you?" She finished, addressing Negan. The shit-eating grin on his face was answer-enough for her.
Once he was untied, everybody got in a single-file line; a rope wrapped around each person's wrist, their hands firmly grasping the twine. Eugene and Gabriel were leading the charge, with Beth and Negan bringing up the rear. Judith and RJ were in the middle, the latter being carried by a woman whose name, Beth didn't know. Watching Eugene go for the doors, she braced herself for the cold. As soon as he pulled them open, the arctic temperatures wrapped around them, stealing the breath from their lungs.
"Let's move, people!" Gabriel ordered, slowly leading the group into the blizzard. Flashlight in hand, they walked at a steady pace, trying to move against the gale force winds. While it seemed like ages, it had only been a couple of minutes before they reached the small playground in Alexandria, which signified they were halfway to Aaron's house.
Of course, that's when Murphy's Law takes effect.
Beth wasn't sure what happened, but something apparently spooked Dog, because he took off without a second thought. And Judith, being the little hero that she is, shouted his name, pulling herself free from the rope and chasing after him, all the while calling out his name. The entire group stood frozen (pun intended), unsure what to do. Vaguely registering Siddiq shouting Judith's name, Beth dropped her hold on the rope.
"Judith! Come back!" Stepping away from the rope, she ignored the others telling her not to go, instead yelling that she would find Judith and Dog and bring them back. Pulling her jacket tighter against her torso, she squinted and ducked her face while calling out for Judith. She couldn't see a thing; the snow seemed to be coming from all directions, and the wind was blowing so hard it was throwing things around. A hunk of wood came flying in her direction, and she didn't get the chance to react before she was tackled to the ground.
"Look out!" A baritone voice shouted, and Beth twisted her neck, surprise marring her features at seeing Negan looking down at her. Shoving him off, she scrambled to her feet as he stepped back; hands raised in surrender.
"What the hell are you doing?!" She yelled, the anger rolling off her in waves.
"Same as you sweetheart, just wanna find Jude." Beth growled in irritation.
"I told you before that I'm not your sweetheart." She retorted, stomping away instead of waiting to hear him reply. Negan, thankfully, seemed to get the message to not piss her off, and they both continued to shout Judith's name, trying to listen for any signs of her over the howling wind. A barking sound grabbed Beth's attention, and she halted in place, straining her ears to try and locate the sound. Hearing it again, she turned to Negan.
"I hear Dog, this way!" They started running, the barking growing louder the closer they got. Beth could've cried in relief when she was able to make out Judith holding onto Dog; the two of them huddled close together. Negan dropped to his knees and picked Judith up, holding her close to keep her warm. Beth saw a rope hanging nearby and used it to fashion a makeshift leash for Dog, looping it around his neck to prevent him from running away again.
"Alright, Negan. I'm gonna lead with Dog, you and Judith stay right behind me. Try and keep a grip on my shoulder or my jacket sleeve. The last thing we want is to get separated." Beth explained; wrapping the remaining rope around her wrist several times, keeping a firm grip on it. Negan only nodded; tightening his hold on Judith as they started to make the trek back the way they came.
Dog's whimpering was the only sound Beth could hear over the roaring of the wind. She could almost make out whatever it was Negan was saying to Judith; it sounded like he was trying to make her laugh. For as annoying as the man was, he sure knew when to step up, it seemed.
Beth was starting to feel totally drained of energy; the cold temperature was seeping into her bones. So when Aaron's house came into sight, the ragtag team picked up the pace again; the need to get warm was becoming overwhelming. Stomping up the steps with Negan, Judith, and Dog in tow, Beth pounded on the door, yelling that it was her and to let them in.
The door was yanked open, and Beth was greeted by the sight of Gabriel and Siddiq, with Rosita and Eugene in the background. Piling inside, Judith was immediately taken from Negan by Gabriel and placed in front of the fireplace in his living room.
"Jesus, Beth! Your mouth is turning blue." Rosita stated, concern in her tone. Beth tried to fight the chattering of her teeth and the exhaustion in her body. She was so tired; getting out of the cold and into the warmth just seemed to make her weariness more prominent. And before she could even say anything to Rosita, her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she promptly passed out.
Whoops.
Sunlight was bleeding through a set of sheer curtains. Beth groaned as the light shined directly into her eyes, rolling over to face away from the window.
It'd been two days since the blizzard had passed through, burying the majority of Alexandria in knee-deep snow. She was still stationed in Aaron's house, along with roughly half of Alexandria's residents.
Upon waking up after her embarrassing fainting spell, Beth was thoroughly lectured by Siddiq for overdoing it, while he listened to her heart and checked for any signs of frostbite. Yes, she was getting around much better, and yes, her broken bones had mended. But she'd been on bed rest for a couple of weeks, and her energy levels would need time to adjust back to what they'd been before. With a huff and roll of her eyes, Beth had apologized and swore she'd be more careful, while also calling Siddiq 'mom'.
His face had not been amused. But Eugene, who'd been working on the radio nearby, got a good laugh out of it, so she counted it as a win.
Throwing her legs over the side of the bed she'd been sleeping in, Beth grabbed her boots and pulled them on her feet. She was faintly aware of laughter coming from outside, so she stood up and put on the sweater she had laying on the end of the bed, walking towards the window. Pulling back the curtain, she looked down and felt a smile form on her lips.
Judith and RJ were having a snowball fight, and a couple other kids were playing with them as well; Dog bouncing around with his tail wagging in excitement. What really got her attention though, was a face she hadn't seen in two months.
Grinning, Beth threw open the bedroom door and went downstairs, heading straight out the front door without a coat; the cold was tolerable now that the wind was no longer howling. She skidded to a stop when she reached the edge of the street, calling out the teen's name.
"Lydia!"
Lydia's gaze snapped in her direction when she heard her name, and her grin was huge. The two went running towards each other, crashing into a tight embrace.
"Beth! God, I missed you!" Lydia laughed, squeezing her tight. Beth's cheeks ached from smiling, and she pulled away from the hug to look over Lydia, taking in her appearance.
"I missed you too, I really did." Beth tucked the younger girl's hair behind her ear, moving to hug her again. The hug was cut short, however, when Beth took a snowball to the face. Shock marred her features, as she searched for the offender. Her eyes zeroed-in on Judith and RJ peeking around a tree in her direction, their giggles filling the air.
"Oh I see how it is! You better run!" Beth and Lydia immediately picked up a bunch of snow, tossing it in the kids' direction, their squeals of laughter making the adults around them laugh as well. Beth saw Michonne out of the corner of her eye and threw a snowball, hitting her target on the shoulder.
Soon enough, it was chaos. Piles of snow were being flung left and right, and Beth quickly felt the cold seeping through her clothes, but she didn't care. The laughter and happiness of the moment was contagious, and they had all learned to savor moments like these when it was the end of the world.
She managed to back away from the center of the madness when she found herself feeling winded, instead choosing to stand on the outskirts and watch, her face alight with merriment. Her smile slowly faded away when she spotted a familiar mop of brown hair and a crossbow, arm strung back to hurl a snowball at Lydia.
Daryl.
As if he could sense her gaze, Daryl paused in the midst of throwing the snowball to meet her eyes. And she could see the guilt and shame written across his face, even from a distance. It was obvious he felt bad for leaving without saying goodbye.
Good. Let him sulk.
She watched as he promptly dropped the ball and made a move to approach her. But she wasn't ready to forgive him, not after two months of nothing.
Straightening her spine, Beth started in the direction of the infirmary, wanting to avoid Daryl.
Lydia, who had been watching them both stare at each other, followed Beth's retreating form in concern, and watched as Daryl immediately trailed after her. She made a move to follow them, but was stopped by Michonne's hand on her shoulder.
"Leave them be. They need to deal with it themselves." Lydia cast a curious look towards the samurai.
"Deal with what?" She asked, but Michonne simply smiled, a secret behind her eyes.
"Something they've both been avoiding for a long time."
Beth was halfway to the infirmary when she heard someone calling her name. Recognizing the voice as Daryl's, she pretended not to hear him and continued to walk, crossing her arms over her chest to fight off the chill she felt on her skin.
"Beth!" Daryl called, jogging to catch up to the petite blonde. Knowing she could hear him, but was choosing to ignore him just made him move quicker. When she was within reach, he wrapped his hand around her bicep, forcing her to stop. She spun around, fury in her eyes.
"Let go of me." Ignoring the demand, Daryl tried to speak.
"Look, Beth, m'sorry-"
"I said let go!" Yanking free from his grip, Beth stormed away, leaving Daryl in the street as she continued to the infirmary. She didn't waste any time bounding up the front steps and going inside, slamming the door shut behind her as she paced towards the den. She was in the middle of the hall when she heard the front door being opened and closed, and she whipped around, glaring at Daryl, who had continued to follow her.
"Y'know sumthin'? Yer a pain in the ass." He growled, dropping his crossbow down on the floor, the clatter echoing off the walls. Beth stared at Daryl, irritation welling up.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me!" He declared, taking two steps further into the room. "In the seven years you were gone, ya ain't changed at all! Ya still get pissy when ya don't get yer way and then ya run off like a damn brat!"
"That's hilarious, coming from you!" Beth shouted, walking to the front end of the hall. "Daryl Dixon, the guy who never let anybody get too close because he's afraid of getting hurt!" She screamed, her blood pounding in her eardrums as her arms flailed about. "You say I haven't changed, but what about you? You're exactly the same! You're too afraid to confront whatever the hell this is, so you just leave! It's such bullshit!" She declared with a shove against his chest, forcing him to take a step back to keep his balance.
"There ain't nothin' to confront." He hissed, glaring at her through his shaggy hair. Beth laughed, but there was no humor in her voice.
"That's bullshit, Daryl, and you know it! All that time on the road when it was just us, there was something there. I didn't wanna face it then, and neither did you. But it was there, and it still is. But I'm so tired of thinking that I'm gettin' somewhere with you, just for you to go and run off."
"No, that's bullshit. Ya need to grow up, cause yer just seein' sumthin' that ain't there, Beth." He regretted the words as soon as he said them, and the wounded look on Beth's face didn't help the guilt pooling in his gut. He knew it was a lie, and he was fairly certain that she did too, but that didn't make the words any less hurtful. And it was the exhaustion in Beth's face, the frustration in her eyes and frown on her pretty mouth that reminded him of something.
Daryl was taken back to a moment, similar to this one, that happened so long ago it almost felt like a dream, rather than a memory. A moment where he and Beth were screaming at each other, drunk off moonshine and covered in grime as they each faced down their inner demons. More-so Daryl's than Beth's, but they had learned a lot about each other that night. And they learned even more about each other as the days went by.
And as quick as his irritation with her had come, it was gone.
Daryl's shoulders sagged as he dropped his head, dragging a hand down his face.
"M'sorry." He mumbled, his eyes on the floor. "Fuck, m'so sorry, Beth. I shouldn't have left without sayin' goodbye." He admitted, and looked up at Beth, who was still glaring at him. Her gaze slowly softened as he spoke, and it was quiet for a minute before she sighed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"No, you shouldn't have. So why did you?" She stared at him with a hurt look in her beautiful blue eyes.
Daryl's heart clenched painfully in his chest at the sight of her solemn expression, and he didn't stop to think before he wrapped her in a hug, which she seemed hesitant to return, and that broke his heart more. He never wanted Beth to feel like she had to tread carefully around him or be uncertain of what he was going to do. Daryl buried his face in Beth's hair, breathing her in and feeling his heart steady in his chest. His arms were wrapped around her torso; hers around his shoulders, squeezing him tight.
"Ain't got no excuse, dunno why I did. 'M just sorry I did it." His voice was muffled by her hair, but she understood every word and heaved a heavy breath, not bothering to reply. Despite the years of separation, there were some things about Daryl Dixon that would probably never change, and she understood that. One of those things happened to be his annoying habit to run from uncomfortable situations that directly involve him. He'd done it for as long as Beth had known him, but you'd never hear him admit it out loud.
Daryl's voice brought Beth back to the present.
"Will ya forgive me if I promise to never leave without sayin' goodbye again?" She huffed a small laugh, tightening her arms around his neck.
"If you do, I'm comin' for your ass, Daryl Dixon." She joked in a watery voice.
Daryl snorted and slowly pulled back to look at Beth's face. Seeing her eyes trying to fight back tears, he reached up with his thumb and wiped away the moisture that had managed to escape.
Beth wanted to smack herself for the tears she was trying to keep at bay. What the hell was it about Daryl Dixon that seemed to bring all of these feelings out of her? Ever since she reunited with her old family, she'd been so emotional. That wasn't the kind of person Beth was anymore. She was supposed to be strong. She had fought like Hell to survive in this new world, she felt she had earned her place in it. And she didn't get here by being soft and letting her emotions get the better of her. There was pain, death, blood. Some of it hers. Most of it not.
Christ, she could remember when he first showed up on her family's farm. She had been incredibly wary of him, verging on scared. Young and naive, sixteen year-old Beth Greene had been so incredibly sheltered. Even in the beginning of the apocalypse.
But then the farm fell, and she'd had to adapt. And they had found the prison, and they had fought so hard to make it their home, losing people along the way and gaining others, only to lose them as well. And when the prison fell, Beth and Daryl had gotten out together. And they had ran, fighting off the dead for hours, hiding in a trunk as the herd went right by them, trying to control their labored breathing and remain perfectly still. And when she had decided she wanted a drink, they'd gone and found her just that. Although, looking back it might have been a bad idea. But Beth couldn't deny the fact that she and Daryl had learned a lot about each other that night in the moonshine shack.
And when they had ventured on, finding the funeral home, Daryl had been almost tender with her; carrying her to the table when they ate, initiating physical contact with her, whether it'd be a touch on her shoulder or to help her bandage her injured ankle. He handled her as if she were a fragile piece of China. At the time, she had found it endearing.
Looking back, it was just further proof that she hadn't been strong enough to survive in this world.
And thinking about that led Beth to an even darker thought...what if Alpha had been right, when she had implied that Beth had become weak? Caring about people can make you strong, it gives you a reason to fight...but it's also a liability in this world, the truly evil will have no problem with using the ones you care about as a means to destroy you.
Beth had come too far to be destroyed now.
Refocusing her gaze on Daryl's face, his face was searching hers, probably trying to read the millions of emotions that were passing over her features. Concern was evident in his eyes; he could tell that she'd faded out of the moment, lost in her mind.
"Ya alrigh'?" He asked, lifting his palm to cup her face, his other hand resting comfortably on her hip. Beth found that she couldn't answer him, because she didn't know what to say.
Was she alright? Probably not, but she would be. Because like hell if she was going to let something that Alpha had said get inside her head. It was bad enough that the thought had even entered her mind to begin with, but she refused to let it effect this moment with him.
Staring at Daryl, Beth's fingers seemed to have a mind of their own as they played with his shaggy hair on the back of his head, admiring how soft it felt.
Daryl wasn't totally certain what was going on, but he didn't tense up like he normally would at being touched, knowing if he did the moment between them would be ruined. And, surprisingly, that was the last thing he wanted. So instead, he allowed his eyes to drift shut as he leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers, savoring the feel of her fingers running through his hair.
He wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, frozen in the silence of the infirmary, his eyes closed and her fingers in his hair. The stance was incredibly intimate, and if anybody walked in they would think they were interrupting something incredibly private and personal between lovers. But he and Beth are nothing of the sort, they never have been.
So why does the thought make him hold her just a little bit tighter?
Daryl knows the answer; can feel it deep in his bones. The bigger question is: does Beth feel it too? Something in his gut tells him that she does.
Taking a shaky breath, he forced his eyes open, not surprised to see hers had also drifted shut at some point. And he took a second to admire her. Her blonde locks were pulled back in a messy braid, strands escaping and framing her scars on her face should have bothered him, but all they did was prove to him that she was alive and with him, right here, right now. Not dead in the trunk of a car or trapped in some creepy hospital, not broken apart lying in a bed, passed out from pain.
And Daryl had an epiphany; he had been putting off so much with Beth, constantly telling himself that he'd get his chance when there was time, always saying that now wasn't the right time. Truth of it is, he was afraid. Still is, but it's not like he'll ever say that out loud to anybody. Except, maybe, to the girl in his arms currently. And that's when he knew he had to try.
"Beth." He spoke, his voice low and soft. She started to open her eyes, but he stopped her, telling her to keep her eyes closed for a minute.
"D'ya trust me?" The question wasn't rhetorical or ironic, he genuinely needed an answer from her, and he waited with bated breath for her answer.
"Always." She said with a softness that he hadn't heard her use in a long time. In fact, the last time he heard her voice that soft, that vulnerable…
Oh.
Swallowing a mouthful of oxygen, Daryl dipped his head down, slanting his mouth right above hers, not quite touching, but so close that her mouth popped open with a small intake of air, clearly able to sense what was coming.
"Ya sure?" He asked, giving her the opportunity to change her mind. Instead of answering, Beth opted to go with her gut and closed the rest of the distance between them, molding her mouth against his.
She couldn't prevent the quiet sigh from her lips or the sagging of her body against his own; Daryl supporting her weight as they kissed.
And what a kiss it was.
He was fairly certain that there was nothing in this world that tasted as good as Beth Greene. If sunshine had a flavor, he liked to think that it would remind him of Beth. Her lips were soft, a little cold from the chill of winter, but he would gladly warm her right up. Hell, everything on Beth was soft, save for her personality. Despite his first assumptions when he'd met her so many years ago, Beth Greene was anything but soft. He knew that well.
A needy moan that came from deep in her throat sent his blood rushing south, and Daryl had to fight all his instincts to keep his control. Tightening one of his arms around her waist, he took the other and took hold of the back of her neck, angling her head more and deepening the kiss.
Beth had sensed when his face came closer to hers, despite her eyes being closed. And yet, she was still surprised that she was kissing Daryl. But she found she never wanted to stop. There was something so foreign and yet so familiar about her lips pressed against his, and the involuntary moan that crawled its way up her throat had her tightening her arms around his neck.
Neither knew how much time had passed, but the muffled sound of people walking by the infirmary pulled them back to the present, and they reluctantly separated, their foreheads resting against each other again. Daryl opened his eyes to find Beth already watching him, her posture becoming a bit tense, like she was waiting for him to jump away and run - again. She slowly drew her arms down away from his neck and rested her palms on his chest, her right hand over his heart, feeling the steady beat.
"Please don't tell me you regret that." Beth said, trying to pass it off with nonchalance, but her face betrayed her fear. And Daryl knew it was time to stop running.
"Only thing I regret is not doin' that sooner." He responded, giving her hip a gentle squeeze in reassurance. The relief flooded her face in an instant, and she gave him a sweet smile. Laying her head against his chest, she could feel him resting his chin on top of her hair.
"What does this mean?" She had to ask. She didn't want anymore mixed signals.
"Whatever ya want it to." He said, "Ain't gonna give ya no declarations or sing ya a song. All I got to offer is me." As an afterthought, he added "-and Dog." He could feel her smile grow wider, and they pulled away from each other, just enough so that she could look up at him.
"That's all I want." And Daryl gave her a very rare, but very beautiful smile. And it unleashed a horde of butterflies in her belly, but she loved it, and she wouldn't change a thing.
They both moved in, sealing their words with another kiss.
That evening found Beth and Daryl seated on the floor in front of the fireplace, with Dog curled up beside them. Daryl was leaning against one of the old chairs, and Beth was seated in front of him, her back against his chest with his arms around her, his head atop hers. The room was silent, the only sounds coming from the crackling of the burning logs. They had been talking in soft voices about everything that had happened in the last two months, and it seemed that nothing eventful had occurred for either of them, although Daryl was pleased to hear that Beth had made some friends and reconnected with Judith. And Beth was relieved to learn they hadn't run into any serious trouble while traveling from the Kingdom to the Hilltop. They had been enjoying the peace and each other's company when Beth spoke up.
"You know, soon as winter is over, she'll be back." She didn't have to clarify who she was talking about, Daryl knew. He grunted in acknowledgement, and Beth continued. "Regardless of what she preaches to the others, nothing is as black and white as she makes it out to be. She has a plan, she always does. We need to be ready."
"What do ya think she's plannin'?" Daryl asks, his gaze never leaving the flames. He felt Beth sigh and shrug her shoulders.
"I don't know, that's the problem. Even when I was Delta, she never brought me into her plans until it was time to act. She hardly trusts Beta with whatever goes on in her head." She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The scary thing about it, is that it never mattered if she didn't tell us. Her plans always worked. There's a reason she's been Alpha for a long time."
Daryl wasn't totally sure what to do with this information, but he pulled Beth further back against him, tightening his arms around her in an attempt to comfort.
"We'll beat her. We will." He made it sound so simple, but they both knew it wouldn't be. Daryl glanced down at Beth, who turned her torso to meet his eyes.
"We have to, we don't have a choice." She reaffirmed before leaning back against him, returning her gaze to the dancing orange and yellow flames.
"I'm done runnin'."
A/N: Hi! This chapter has been sitting in my files 3/4 of the way done for months, I am so sorry it took so long to get it out! I honestly struggled with it a lot, not sure why. Just one of those times where the words don't match the picture in your head, ya know? Please leave a review, tell me your thoughts! Constructive criticism is always welcome!
-Taylor Catherine