Chapter Twenty- One

Six Months Later

Beth's screams fill the small house. Edward's assistant and Lucinda rush about the house, gathering up towels and bowls of cold water to drape wet clothes over Beth's forehead to keep her cool. All while Edwards stares blankly at a book that is propped open at the edge of the bed. His lips moving while glancing over the words, though the expression on his face tells Beth that it isn't computing.

A heavy sigh escapes her as she clenches her teeth while glancing at the man's assistant that mutters, "It going to be okay. Just breath and count..." Beth blocks her out. Her eyes clenching shut as Lucinda brushes the woman away and takes her hand. Unfurling it from the folds of the sheets and leans close .

"We practiced this, remember. It'll be okay."

Beth nods, her brows furrowed together as another contraction takes hold of her. This one stronger than the last and she clutches Lucinda's hand. Nails nearly digging into her cold flesh, and she's thankful Jackson decided to turn her. At least now she knows a friend will be there to raise her daughter. Someone she's learned to trust and depends on and she breaths a sigh of relief at the thought as another scream erupts from her lungs.

"Do you even know what your doin down there?" Lucinda asks, her voice nearly a snarl as the man glances at her.

Fear gathering in his eyes as he nods. "Yes, I've studied for this. I'm just making sure..." he starts to explain, visibly shaking as Jessica barges into the room. Stopping briefly to shove a concerned looking Theo and Jackson back out before heading over to where to Doctor is standing.

"It sure as hell don't look it," Lucinda says as Jessica pushes him out of the way. Taking his place between Beth's spread legs and the young girl let's her head flop onto the bed. Exhaustion and adrenaline warring with one another as she feels Jessica prod at her.

"The babies right there, you just need to push Z," she says, her hands coming up to grip both Beth's legs. Lucinda nods at her, helping to sit her up a little better before saying, "one..." Beth counts the rest out in her head. Pushing as hard as she can before giving up. Lucinda lets out a round of compliments telling her how good she did and Beth glares at her. Silencing the woman on the spot before Jessica's telling her to try again.

To keep going.

Beth nods, once again sitting up to push. Using every bit of strength she can until minutes-or hours- later there's a "that's good. I got'em," from Jessica as the pressure from below ends. Doctor Edwards is standing behind her friend. Nodding his head in approval and looking surprisingly sober for a change as Beth relaxes. Closing her eyes to breath a little and allow Lucinda to wipe her down as she waits.

She remembers from somewhere, Lori's own recount of giving birth maybe, that the baby is supposed to cry afterwards. There's supposed to be a smack and then a wail from the small child. Only now there's silence. She looks to Lucinda who glances back at her, a forced smile on her face as she nods. The words of reassurance unable to escape her lips as she glances back at Edwards and Jessica. The two of them are huddled at the base of the bed. Their focus on the quiet bundle in their arms and Beth pushes herself up.
Trying her best to sound strong as she asks, "what's wrong?"

Lucinda shakes her head. Pushing back on Beth's shoulder to get her to lie back down and Beth shoves her off .Unable to take the unknown. Wishing for the hundredth time that Daryl was there. Next to her, holding his breath just the same as her while the others whisper. Once again she's torn back into the past. With a nurse that's staring at a screen, the equipment cold at her stomach as she smiles, a firm but unsure smile, toward the new parents and the looks back at the screen. Her gaze a little too focused for just another routine check-up before she quietly excuses herself and pulls a doctor in with her moment's later.

Beth breaths in deep. Preparing herself for the inevitable. For what she knew was going to happen from the beginning and she almost wishes that she kept on to Georgia. That she continued looking for her family.

Almost.

Until a small wail fills the room and she can feel her lungs deflate. Relief flooding her system as she sits up further. Pushing past Lucinda's smiling face to look at her new born baby. Taking in the small nose that's wrinkled up in distaste, and the nubby fingers that are balling into fists as they're pushed this way and that. The baby doing it's utter best to escape the confines of Jessica and Edwards grasp as Edwards checks her pulse and heart rate.

Doing everything he can to ensure the babies healthy before it's being wrapped up in a blanket and brought over to the mother.

"It's a girl, Z," Jessica says, smiling as she hands the child over. "A beautiful baby girl."

Beth heaves a sigh, grasping at her child and bundling her close to her chest. Ignoring the still blue lips and the off color skin. Remembering how Judith looked the first time she held her and wandering what day it was. Where the group was at this moment.

If Lori had her child yet, and if in some sick way, Daryl was sharing this moment with her. Beth glances out the window. Notes the melting snow and the birds flying about. She can only imagine that her family has found the prison already. That Lori's had Judith and is no longer part of this world. She gave up hope long ago that she could change the past. That she could make any difference, but as she looks at the small bundle now settling in her arms. She thinks maybe there is a future. It maybe without Daryl or the rest. It's not exactly what she wanted in this life, but she wasn't giving up.

She had a child that depended on her now. One that was actually hers. Her own flesh and blood. With a deep breath, she looks to the others. Their waiting. Expecting her to say something, so she smiles. Pulls the blankets from the child's face and says, "what do you think of Anna Darlene?"

The others smile, "aww's" and "love it's" spreading through out the group as they push closer. Welcoming Anna into the folds of their small community. The first child to be born within it's walls. Her name to be written in Deanna's journal of happenings, unbeknownst to the small group.


A Couple of Weeks Later

Beth's lying in bed a few weeks later when the headaches start up again. Little Anna bundled in her arms napping. Something Beth sorely needed when she's wakened with a sharp pain to her skull. "Shit," she grumbles, doing her best to sit up without waking the baby. As she sits on the side of the bed the prison swims before her eyes. Bits of it swirling as the realization of what's happening comes to her.

Another change.

Something else that she would have to put away.

This time though she can hear Daryl and his brother clearly just across the wall. One of them attempting to be quiet as the other continues to shout.

"You've gotta do something about your girl. I've told her time and again not to point a gun at my head..."Merle snarls as Prison Beth quietly pokes her head around the corner .Her curiosity peaked at the mention of her from the oldest Dixon brother. Though she's clueless to what he's talking about.

"She didn't point the gun at your head," Daryl snaps back, sounding annoyed at his brother. "And she's not my girl.

"Don't fuckin lie to me," Merle shouts, shoving at his brother as Beth chances another peak around the corner. "You think I'm blind. Think I wouldn't recognize Blondie when I see her."

"You must be cause that ain't her. Take a long fuckin look at her you dip shit. Different girl...Different time." The lasts parts said low. Nearly a whisper and Prison Beth frowns at the words. Taking a chance to look at the two brothers again and is glad to see Merle just as confused.

"What the hell you on about?" he asks, voicing Beth's question as the older man shoves at Daryl. Forcing him out of his thoughts to glare at him.

"It just ain't her, alright," he snaps, taking a step back. "She's lost alright. Their both lost, alright?"

The two brother's stare at each other. Both seeming to come to an understanding as Daryl shakes. His face twisting and Merle's reaching for him. His own eyes closing like he's trying to hold something back and Prison Beth backs off. Realizing the brother's need a moment for whatever it is they've lost and reminding herself it's not right to ease drop.

Judith's cries mixes with that of Anna's and Beth's forced back to her present. Back to the wall's of Alexandria even as she feels Daryl's grief. The thought that he's grieving for a wife that's not even gone makes it all the harder. Making her wish there was away to contact him. To reassure him and apologize to Merle. To tell him she's sorry for not being able to protect Miranda like she should have. Curling Anna close to her chest, Beth can't stop this grief. Can't stop the tears from slipping down her face onto the baby's cheeks.

Thinking of all the grief and anguish that Daryl was having to live through and what was to come. What was so close to happening and regretting for the hundredth time that she didn't warned him. She could have said something, anything, that would prepare him for what was to come. Cause there was no fixing this. There was no get around and Beth nearly crumbles remembering the pain that Daryl returned to the prison in.

The way he pulled away from everyone. Hid himself in hunting and killing and wouldn't talk to anyone for months. It was almost too much to think about going through all that again and wishes he was here to experience this joy with Anna. To hold her and feel her pulse underneath his fingers.

Something Beth does constantly to remind herself that the child is alive. A reminder that she holds a piece of Daryl in her arms even if he is a hundred miles away.


41 Days Later

Beth, damn it," Theo hollers as he watches her pack a small bag. Beth glances at him. Hearing the frustration in his tone but ignoring it all the same as she continues to pack the rations. Preparing to scout out for medicine. Something that's sorely needed, despite the wealth of supplies here. They don't have the medicine that's needed. The stuff that saved people back at the prison, and while Beth' isn't sure what exactly is going on at the prison, she has a rough idea of could happen here.

This time she means to be prepared. Means to have a plan in place and is thankful that they've come across Aaron. A man that's been wandering for a while now. One that's noticed a thing or two and is good with directions. Like where the nearest doctor's office is. That's Beth's plan. Take this man and two others out to find the medicine that they didn't have at the prison. The one that saved countless after countless more been loss.

She has a child now. Someone that depends on her and can't sit idly by waiting for the inevitable.

It's what Daryl and Rick would do if they would have known.

Prepping for the worst If only Beth could warn them about the worst. If only she thought to when she had the chance. It's a decision that she lives with daily. One that she's trying to make up for by helping these people here survive.

Theo knows this. Knows what lays on her conscious. Despite his constant debates.

"Let Jackson, me and this new guy, Aaron do this. We are more then capable of taking care of this."

Beth glares at him. Her hands firmly on her hips before brushing past him.

"I can't sit in here and do nothing to protect my family, Theo," she says, heading down the stairs. Feet firmly planted in this course of action and is greeted with Lucinda at the bottom with Anna tucked nicely into her arm. Finally sleeping the nights away and she stops to stare at her. A smile spreading across her lips as she reaches out to brush a stray strand of light brown hair out of the girl's face.

"Your place is here, with the your child." Theo concludes, coming to stand next to her as she stares at Anna for a moment longer before turning to him.

"Anna is exactly why I need to be out there. Besides, like you said, it'll be you, Jackson and Aaron. What could possibly happen to me with three strong men about?"

A chuckle rises from Lucinda when Beth brushes past her. Slipping a slight kiss on Anna's forehead in the process before she's out the door. She can vaguely hear Theo muttering, "hahaha, Plen-" His words are cut off by her absence and then a slew of curse words follow her out the door.

"Plenty could happen to you outside of these walls," he continues, pushing past her and turning to walk backwards. Doing his best to ignore the determined look in her eyes.

"Plenty could happen to me inside these walls," she says, stopping finally to give him a minute to explain himself. "At least let me be look out for you guys. Let me do something for this family."

Theo bites his upper lip. His gaze meeting her own as understanding dawns on him. "Cause you can't do anything for your other family. Is that what this is about?"

Beth looks around her. Feels the summer wind blow across her skin and can't help but feel the ache in her chest. It's like some internal clock knows what's going to happen, is happening, and she's helpless to stop it. It's a weight in her gut that grows daily. Like some ticking time bomb waiting to explode and she looks to Theo for understanding. Begs him to see it and after a moment he does. Nodding as he looks at the ground then back at the house. "If something happens to you," he starts, motioning toward the house.

"Anna will still be with you, Jackson and Lucinda.. Safe and loved and that's the most anyone could ask for these days."

"But she'll be without you and that's..."

"I know. Trust me, I know but I can't sit here."

Theo's silent again. Staring her down. Probably wishing he could will her to do as he says and not as he does before he let's out another exasperated sigh and looks toward the car that's being loaded up. Jackson and Aaron stand behind it, already waiting patiently for them.

"I swear to God, Z, if you do anything stupid and reckless. I will wring your neck myself. Dead or not, understood?" He points at her. Glaring long and hard despite the smile spreading across her face.

"Understood, Theo," Beth says, standing up on tip-toes so that she can leave a slight kiss on the side of his face. "Big Brother has spoken and I will obey."

"Haha, laugh it up, Z, but I promise..." he starts again, wrapping a hand around the back of her neck.

"Yes, I know, you'll wring my neck."


They're not out there an hour before the walkers come stumbling out of the forest. Forcing them to slow down and then speed up to avoid the oncoming dead. Beth grows frustrated with the situation as, yet again, they are forced to turn around and find another route to the small hospital. "This is ridiculous," she says, slamming herself back into the seat as Jackson glances back at her. His calm demeanor helping to stabilize her mood a bit. "Sorry, it's just. It was supposed to be there and back .Where are these guys coming from?"

"Cities," Aaron throws in, glancing back at her with a grim smile. "Mostly. My guess is there's no real food left there so they're migrating out and towards more rural areas."

"Yeah, well, they can migrate elsewhere." Beth looks out the window, watching the walkers stumble pass as the car flies by. Fast enough now that they don't get caught, but still slow enough that a couple manage to brush against the car. The sound attracting them more then the smell of fresh blood and Beth wonders how the hell Daryl managed on his bike all this time.

Sure it's small, compact and allows for an easier in and out then an actual vehicle, but still. She'd curse him for the unnecessary risk if she could. Mentally she is while curious to what he's getting up to by now.

Judging from the weather and her own meager attempts at keeping track of months at the prison she could guess they are settling in now. Woodbury residents already there and maybe a few extra. Like Zach and Bob Stookey. The army doctor that had the sweets on Sasha. Beth smiles at the memory of him following her around. Trying his best to catch her attention and she wonders if he ever go it. If he even made it out of the prison when...

Her train of thought stops. Knowing the time is too close and realizes that's the ticking time bomb sitting in her chest. The inevitable that she wishes she could fix and looks around at the guys. Knows that two of them would help in whatever way possible.

Sure it would take some talking into, but they could help.

She could save her father. She could stop the Governor and help save all those at the prison. They were already out there. They weren't too far that they couldn't radio back and inform the others at Alexandria what they had planned. That they might be gone longer then a night and that would be that. They could survive a trip towards Georgia.

Well...most of them could. She glances at Jackson and Theo. Wanting to know what risks it would cost them to head out of state now. To be out longer then a night and in the warm sun. Logically she knows but she also knows these guys are smarter than that. That they can survive a few nights out in the open. That they could find a place to take cover in the day and travel at night. The original plan when moving out from New York to Georgia.

It's only a night in driving distance. The sun just came down in this region. They could travel the night and be in Georgia by morning. Then it would just be taking shelter and figuring out where the prison is located. That could be traveled within a couple of hours. Maybe.

It's a thought.

One that's passed through her mind before in the months during her pregnancy. It's the reason she knows the distance from Virginia to Georgia. Why she hasn't ruled out helping out the prison. They could do it. She knows it. She has a rough idea where the Governor is. A better idea than Michonne, or even Daryl, and it wouldn't take much. Not with a surprise attack with two vampires in tow.

Then what?

That's the question she always comes back to.

Would she return to Alexandria with the brothers? Come back for Anna? Of course, that wasn't a question, but would she leave Daryl again? Could she?

Without the Governor there wouldn't be any threats to the prison. Maggie and them could live safely. No questions asked. No second thoughts on where Daryl might have gone off to. Why he left.

Would they follow him? Search for him and in return find her? An older her?

Beth takes in a deep breath. Envisioning Daryl holding their child. Rocking her much like he would Judith on those long nights when the child just wouldn't sleep. Up and down the hallway, smiling and cooing at her. The thought brings a smile to her lips and she's nearly on the verge of telling the guys her plan. Preparing her argument for each one of their own when the brakes are hit. She's launched forward. Her hands coming to fly out and stop her movement at the back of the driver's seat to find a wall of walkers in front of her.

Dozens of them coming toward them and Jackson quickly pulls the car in reverse. Looking behind him to swerve the car around, again, and hitting the gas to quickly get away. Doing his best to avoid those coming out of the woods when a figure rushes out of the trees. Running in front of his car, and again, forcing him to brake as her own hands fly out. Beth stares at the woman, noticing her torn leather jacket and what looks to be a crossbow wrapped around her back. The woman moves around the car, her hands going to the knife at her side as the walkers continue coming toward them. Officially able to surround the car now that they've been stopped in their escape.

Beth curses, already reaching for her weapon as she jumps out of the car. Ignoring Theo's hollers of

"Z, I don't. Z..." his words are cut off as she slams the door shut though she can clearly see his lips still moving as he points in her direction. His stern gaze promises retribution as Beth jumps over the car to help the woman take out one walker after another.

The girl moves through them like she's dancing. Bouncing up and down, her blade barely meeting one's head before it's being slammed into another. Beth's not even going to lie and try to pretend that she isn't envious of the girl's moves though she doesn't have a chance to really appreciate it before she's fighting her own bit of walkers.
All of them pressing in on her. Each one grabbing for skin and hair and only being driven apart long enough while Jackson and them join the fight. Between the five of them they are able to keep the walkers at bay. A small circle being formed as they take turns punching and kicking. Quickly dispersing the herd just as quickly as their adrenaline spikes and before long their left standing in the crude circle. Panting and exhausted from the fight before Beth manages to stand up straight. The girl next to her is smiling, a kind of thank you forming as she reaches her hand out toward Beth.

"Abigail," she says.

Beth reaches her hand out, grasping the girls and muttering, "Z, nice to meet you."

"Yes, perfectly grand," Theo barks, rounding on the two women. He gives Abigail a quick nod before grabbing Beth's shoulder to force her around to face him.

"What part of not doing anything stupid and reckless did you not understand?"

"She was in danger?" Beth hollers, motioning toward the girl.

"So you had to play hero?" he shouts back, throwing his hands up in the air. "Doesn't hero fall under stupid and reckless." His hand reaches up to wrap around her throat and while Beth takes a step back to push him off, Abigail get's a different idea and comes between them.

"Whoa, lay off buster," she says, knocking his hand away. The moment her skin comes in contact with his, she freezes. Her gaze going from his cold arm to his eyes and then she backs up. Reaching for the weapon on her back as the other four stare at her.

"You're a vampire," she says, bringing the bow like contraption from her back and turning it on. Beth backs up. Looking at the beam of lights between the weapon and then to Jackson for an explanation.

There isn't one to be had and Theo steps forward, coming between Beth and the girl as he holds his hands up. "Now, hold up, let's calm down a bit. I'm not going to hurt you." He keeps his gaze on the woman in front of him but it's a deep voice from behind that set's warning bells off in Beth's head as a man says, "no you won't, blood sucker, but I will be hurting you."


Now I remember why I put this story on pause. It creates a huge headache having to flip through Walking Dead timeline to match it up with events happening there and here. The stories worth it. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy writing it and I'm truly sorry I took so long updating. Hopefully this means I'll be getting back into the story.

I'm not sure how well some of you know the timeline so let me help you out. Six months from the time Beth get's into Alexandra to when she has her baby is the equivalent of team family losing the farm and then finding the prison and Lori having Judith. Give or take a few weeks.

The second paragraph is about the time the Governor is causing issue with them in season three. Believe it or not, that's all in a span of three weeks. Thats right. Three whole weeks for the whole plot of season three. Nice? Right?

As for the final two paragraphs where Beth and them are going out to hunt for medicine that's following the time line between Season Three and Four which is...drum roll please.. five whole months.

Thank goodness for Google and the wonderful people who put up rough estimates of the walking dead timeline. Without them I would be lost and this story wouldn't get anywhere. If you are curious as to what the timeline is and where it is you can find it here at walkingdead. wikia. com

I would share the link but Fanfiction is weird and won't let me so just google Walking Dead Time Line and it should be one of the first things that pops up under walking dead wikia.

You might even be amazed to find that from season 1 to season 6 where they are currently being held by Negan is a span of a whole two years. Crazy? Right? I know sometimes I can't believe it myself. So anyways. Hope you enjoyed this update. Have fun going through that timeline and lining things up nicely where they belong and hopefully I will be back soon with another update.