Here is a short little interlude chapter of sorts. We get a peek into Daryl's POV and some Beth! (Beth's death was one of the worst ever, in my opinion. But, I digress!) I know you guys are aching for a reunion, but you will have to be just a little more patient. - CJ

After the fall of the prison

"Never have I ever had a girlfriend." Beth exclaimed and then grinned at Daryl, waiting for him to drink.

He stared at the blonde across the table from under hooded eyes, fiddling with the glass in front of him. She had no idea what emotions her statement had just conjured up inside of him. This game they were playing. This house they'd found. It all reminded him of what he'd been trying so hard to forget.

He lifted his drink. The cool glass hit his lips and the moonshine went down smooth.

Beth grinned wider. "I knew it, Daryl Dixon. I knew you had a girlfriend."

He was silent. When his eyes cast downward Beth's smile fell.

"What happened to her?" She whispered.

Daryl shrugged. He hated thinking about it. It was just another reminder of what a fuck up he was. "Dunno. We got separated."

"I'm sorry." He knew she was sincere.

His palm rubbed at his jaw. "How it is. We lose everyone."

Beth looked down at the table, her thumb nail picking at the glass. "Was she cute?"

A dark haired, freckled face popped into his mind and he winced at the memory. "Mmmhmm."

"What was her name?"

"Katie." His voice cracked a little and he closed his eyes. He needed to change the subject. "Don't matter now. My turn. I've never gone on vacation."

Later that night, while the duo sat outside, Daryl couldn't stop thinking about Katie. It had been so long since he'd let himself go there, and a stupid drinking game had sent him over the edge. He'd gotten angry- so fucking angry- and Beth hadn't flinched. She was steady and strong, just like Katie had been.

"You remind me of her, ya know?" His low voice broke the quiet.

"Who?" Beth peered curiously at him. "Your girlfriend?"

He nodded. "Yeah. She was always giving me shit and telling me what a good man I was."

A whisper of a smile passed over Beth's lips. "She was right."

Daryl grunted. "And she was always needing me to come rescue her ass. Like you."

Beth laughed and then got quiet. "Did you love her?"

Fuck, that question cut deep. "Mmhmm. Never told her though."

"Why not?"

He shrugged. "Guess I was just a stubborn asshole. Don't know what she saw in me."

"I do." She whispered.

Daryl stared out into the dark, his eyes losing focus. "She deserved better than me. I didn't look hard enough for her when it all went to shit."

"I doubt that. I saw how you were with Sophia. I bet you didn't leave a single stone unturned."

Something behind his eyes started to burn, and Daryl bit his lip. "I should have never stopped looking."

"Maybe you'll find her someday."

Daryl shook his head. "Naw. That ain't how this world works. She's gone."

Beth leaned her head against the porch railing, lost in her own thoughts. No doubt her mind was on everything they had just lost at the prison. Daryl studied her face closely. He'd failed everyone, but he couldn't fail her. He had to keep her safe. She was all he had left.

A few days later….

Daryl was so damn tired of losing people. Every damn time he let himself get close to someone, they were ripped away. Every. Damn. Time.

Alone, he walked down the empty road without direction or purpose. The trail he'd been following had gone cold miles ago.

Rick. Carol. Merle. Now Beth.

And Katie. Daryl's heart twisted. Even all these years later, losing her hurt the most.

His boot kicked at a rock, sending it skipping across broken pavement. He watched it until tears started to blur his vision. Quickly, he wiped them away and took in a ragged deep breath. He couldn't let himself stop looking. That's what he had done with Katie. He had failed her and it haunted him everyday. Then he'd failed Sophia. He wouldn't fail Beth too. He needed to push on. He needed to find her.

Memories flooded his mind as he began to run again.

"We're going to Morning Glory." He'd demanded as Merle revved the engine of his truck.

"Uh uh. That's 8 miles in the wrong direction." Merle answered, as he shifted the car into drive.

"Too bad. I ain't leaving without her."

Merle's eyes swung over, and stared at his brother hard. "We go back there and we're dead men, little brother."

Daryl could feel himself shrinking under Merle's gaze. Emotions boiled under the surface- anger, fear, love. No. He was tired of his brother always calling the shots. Not this time. Not with Katie on the line. He pounded his fist on the dashboard.

"Dammit Merle. I love her!" It was the first time he'd acknowledged his feelings, and the words came out of him in a rush.

He expected Merle to laugh, poke fun at him for being pussy whipped, but instead his brother surprised him and his eyes turned soft. "Then it's probably best you don't see what she's become."

"No. No. She's tough. She ain't one of ….. them." Whatever they were." Daryl yelled.

"Listen to me." Merle's voice was stern. "I drove past there. Trust me. You don't want to go back there."

Daryl let Merle's words sink in, but wouldn't believe them. Katie was tough, if the dead had gotten into Morning Glory he was sure she had been able to make it out, or barricade herself somewhere until help came.

"You dragged me all over the damn place looking for your fucking stash, but ya didn't think ta stop and look for her?!"

Merle lifted his foot off the brake and began to drive towards Atlanta. "I'm sorry, brother."

The road ahead of him blurred from his tears, his lungs burned and legs ached, but Daryl pressed on. Without Merle around to tell him who he was, he knew his purpose. He wasn't some degenerate lone wolf nor did he have a heart made of stone. Maybe that was old Daryl. But he wasn't that guy anymore. He had a family now, and he was going to put it back together.