His Light in the Dark

Pairing: TWD AU – Daryl/Beth – Established Bethyl

Summary : Daryl and Beth are inseparable until an accident leaves Daryl with Amnesia. With no memory of Beth or anyone else, Daryl must learn to trust everyone all over again. Beth doesn't tell him about their relationship, not wanting Daryl to feel trapped. Will Daryl fall in love with Beth all over again? Or will their love die?

AN: This takes place 3 years after the fall of the Prison. Beth was still kidnapped and taken to Grady, but she isn't scarred and Daryl and company rescued her. They have lived in Alexandria for 2 ½ years. Beth is now almost 22 and Daryl is around 38.

Chapter 1

Beth was working in the garden when the cry rang out. It made her blood freeze. Her eyes widened and she swallowed hard.

"Daryl's injured! Open the gate up now! He needs the Doc!"

Without further thought, she raced toward the gate, her heart pounding in her chest. She saw the gate slide open, and Rick and Tyresse ran inside. Daryl was propped up between them, his head hanging at an awkward angle. He was unconscious. She could see the blood matted in his dark brown hair. Beth pushed her fist against her mouth to stifle the scream that was threatening to escape.

She followed them as they made it to Denise's office. They dragged him in and laid him out on the table. Denise immediately began to assess the situation. She flashed a light into Daryl's eyes, and said, "No response."

Beth stood there shaking. Rick came over to her. "Everything was going fine. We cleared the buildings and got our supplies. Just as Daryl was coming out of the last building, a large sign that had been dangling up top fell over the edge. I yelled out, but it hit him before he could react. I don't even know if he realized what was happening. We grabbed him and got him straight here. God Beth! I'm so sorry! Should have been paying better attention."

Beth shook her head. "It's alright Rick. Everyone knows Dixon's got hard heads. I'm sure he'll be right as rain here soon enough. Probably just got the wind knocked out of him."

"I hope you're right."

A couple hours later, Denise had him stabilized. He still hadn't woken up and Beth was worried. Denise assured her it was perfectly normal.

Beth sat in the chair next to his bed, her hand gripping his tightly. "Come on Daryl. You're a fighter. So fight now. Fight for us. Fight for me. I need you to wake up. I need you to be alright. I love you!"

But Daryl remained unconscious, and Beth fell asleep in that chair, her hand still holding his tight.

The next morning, Beth groaned loudly. Her neck had a kink in it and her back hurt from the awkward angle she had sat in the chair. She looked at Daryl and saw he was still out. She ran her hand through his hair lightly. He loved it when she did that.

Beth turned in the seat when she heard the door open. Rick poked his head in. "Any change?"

She shook her head sadly. "Still unconscious."

Rick sighed. "Well, he did get hit pretty hard. I'm not surprised he's still out."

"He needs to wake up. I need him to wake up. For me. For…our baby…"

Rick was shocked. "You're pregnant Beth? That's great news. Does Daryl know?"

She shook her head again. "I just found out before you all came back."

"Well, I know for a fact he'll be ecstatic. I'm so happy for the two of you."

"I was so shocked when I found out. I just know he's gonna be a great daddy."

"I'll be on patrol today. If you need anything, you let me know, okay?"

"Thank you, Rick. I appreciate it."

Beth heard the door close, but her focus was back on Daryl. The whole time they had talked, Daryl had not stirred. She ran her fingers through his hair again.

For the rest of the day there was no change in Daryl's condition. He remained as motionless as when he was first brought in. Beth never left his side. She continued to hold his hand and spoke in a low voice to him.

Early the next morning, she felt his fingers tighten around hers. She opened her eyes and saw that he was moving his head around on the table. He groaned loudly, but it was music to Beth's ears.

"Daryl? Hey! I'm here. I'm right here. You're safe. You're back home. Can you hear me, Daryl?"

Daryl opened his eyes and immediately slammed them back shut. Fucking bright ass light! He tried again, opening one eye into a slit. He opened it wider and then tried the other. Fucking head was splitting apart!

He became aware of the presence of a person next to him. He turned his head to see a blonde head. He focused more and her face came into view. She smiled.

"Hey there handsome! You had all of us scared. You've been unconscious for almost three days. I was so worried about you. Can you tell me how you feel?" she rambled.

"Heads throbbin' awful. Feel like I been on a bender," he groaned out. He felt her fingers squeeze his.

"No bender. You got hit with a sign. I'm not surprised you have a headache."

He looked her over again. "This is gonna sound weird, but who are you and jus' where the hell am I?"

The girl gasped. "I'm Beth. Don't you remember me? I'm your…"

He interrupted her. "Sorry, but I don't know ya. Where the hell is Merle? Why ain't that sumbitch here?"

The girl - Beth - gasped again. "Merle?"

"Yeah. M'brother. Where is he?"

"Daryl… Merle's dead. He died almost 3 years ago. You were there. He….he turned into a walker….and you killed him," Beth told him softly.

Daryl's eyes widened. "Shit! I don't remember any of that. I don't know what the hell is going on right now!"

Beth fought the urge to cry. "What's the last thing you remember?"

Daryl thought hard. "Remember when the dead first started walkin'. Me and Merle got out of the city quick. Last thing I remember is bein' on the road with him."

"Daryl- all that happened almost 6 years ago," Beth said. "You don't remember anything after that?"

He shook his head. "Nope. Not a thing."

"The farm? The prison? Anything?"

"I jus' tol' ya I don't 'member nothin'! Maybe you should get someone else in here. Your' making ma head throb more," Daryl practically screamed at her. "Got a goddamn baby in here 'stead of a fucking doctor!"

Beth rose from the chair quickly, pulling her hand from his. She ran to the door and yanked it open. Once outside, she let her tears fall.

Daryl didn't have a clue who she was. And that fact almost broke her.