A/N: We're almost there...can you feel the suspense? There are a few flashbacks in this one that I hope you all enjoy! Look for new chapters of my others stories to come out soon; I think I may even have a brand new one in the works!? As well as a one shot involving a sweet gesture made by Rick to Riley. As always I love to hear what you all think and any ideas you may have for this story or my others! Enjoy!
Chapter Forty-One: I Won't Give Up
Riley sat on the steps of the church her eyes trained on the large white truck that would take her father and brother back to the city…back to Beth…Beth…..Beth.
'Beth is alive….alive….everything is going to be fine, Daryl and dad will bring her back…..back where she belongs…..Beth is alive….alive'
Riley brought her hands up to her head and ran her fingers through her hair, shaking her head slowly she pushed herself to her feet and walked towards the truck she placed a flat palm onto the dirty and peeling paint knowing this was the vehicle that her heart….her soul would be returning on.
Closing her eyes for a moment her hand dropped from the truck and reached into her back pocket only to come out empty, with a sad smirk she remembered handing the photograph over to her father
'this…this is your job'
Opening her eyes she moved away from the truck and looked into the open doors of the church watching as her father, brother, Tyresse and Sasha moved around the small space packing collecting all the weapons and supplies needed for their journey. For a moment Riley debated running into the church and telling the group she was going, all that vanished though when Carl walked by with Judith on his hip, the boy walked over to stand by Michonne who was also staying behind.
Walking away from the church Riley found herself in the small cemetery that filled a third of the land, she walked among the headstones coming to stand before one that read 'DARLING WIFE', Riley swallowed the lump in her throat as the words sank in….wife…..wife….wife; kneeling down in front of the stone her fingertips grazed the raised words gently, a ghost of a smile crossing her lips, she would finally get her chance, her chance to ask Beth the one question she should have asked long ago….her darling wife…..
The crunching of leaves sounded behind her and Riley stood turning to face her brother, his blue eyes going from her to the stone, his eyes changing for a moment…..lost in a memory…..
As they walked through the cemetery Beth looked around at all the headstones there were two side by side that caught her eye. She asked Daryl to stop and hopped off of his back. She limped forward a bit and looked at the two faded and broken down tombstones. Daryl walked beside her his eyes also scanning over the two rocks, reading the craved in words 'BELOVED FATHER' read one while the other read 'DARLING WIFE' Daryl glanced over and saw Beth's eyes locked onto the one that read 'wife' he watched as she bit her lip and looked around. She stepped to the side and ripped out a few wild flowers placing some on either stone. Stepping back Daryl reached out gripping her hand giving it a small squeeze 'we'll find her….I'll get the two of you together again' he thought before having Beth climb back onto his back and continuing the journey towards the large white home
Daryl's eyes quickly went back to Riley knowing that she was thinking the same thoughts Beth had that day
"don't Daryl" Riley spoke before her brother could
Daryl looked at his sister his eyes softening "I'm sorry Riles" Daryl was speaking not just of leaving Riley behind, but of also losing the one person Riley had ever truly loved
Riley looked at her brother and then back at the headstone "it's okay….it is….I understand I may not like it fully but I understand" Riley replied turning back to her brother "….in the end Beth is alive, and your going to get her and bring her back…..and that's all that matters"
Daryl watched Riley noticing how her eyes were holding a little bit of the light that he thought had been extinguished forever; in that moment Daryl was overcome with a wave of fear what if something happened, what if Beth was gone…..or dead by the time they got there, what if they couldn't get her back…what if….
Daryl was released of his worries when Riley closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him, after a moment he too wrapped his arms around her
"I know you'll save her Daryl…you did it once…"
Daryl pulled away "when…" he whispered confusion lacing his words, he could only remember losing Beth, letting her get taken
"after the prison….you were there for her….she made it that far because of you, and now you get to finish it….you get to rescue her"
Daryl watched as Riley smirked at him and all the worries and fear he had left his body; his sister was something else even after knowing that because of him Beth was taken, because of him Beth was at this hospital to begin with, she still only saw the good in him, he knew then that he wouldn't fail, he would bring Beth back to where she belonged….into the arms of Riley
Riley and Daryl both turned at the sound of a low whistle they watched as Rick stood at the front of the church watching them "time to head out" Riley spoke making her way back to the church
Daryl made his way after her, only to stop dead in his tracks as a wave of thoughts raced though his mind. The night with Beth at the shack, watching Riley when they reached Terminus…..
"I miss everything about her….the first time she said she loved me…" Beth stopped and bit her bottom lip. Daryl looked over but decided to let that story rest. He watched as Beth clicked the box open, her eyes scanning something. As Beth reread the note tapped inside her heart beat grew faster and the tears she so badly wanted to stay at rest filled her eyes 'told you I keep my eyes open…I know it's not much and it's probably stupid but you need to know how much I love you; I would do anything for you Beth. It may not be a ring and I may not be doing this the right way; but I want to spend the rest of forever with you… I love you Greene' Daryl waited until Beth was ready and then slowly watched as she held out the box; Daryl looked at it before gazing up at her, when she slowly nodded her head signaling that it was okay and he could he reached across and held the box in front of him reading the note. He glanced up at Beth to see she was staring off into the forest. Inside the box was a crossbow pendant. It was silver and had that antique look to it and as the light from the moon hit it Daryl could see that it looked just like the one Riley has. "she always told me she would keep her eyes open…" Daryl pulled the necklace from the box before leaning over and gesturing for Beth to turn around. She did and he clasped the necklace closed around her. Looking down Beth saw how prefect the two necklaces went together. As Daryl leaned back he asked "did you know…about the other part" Beth shook her head "I never thought it would cross her mind she was always the one that would say why does everyone need to know that we're in love when we know" Beth smirked "I always wanted to…being able to call her my…" her voice falter and Daryl saw a little bit of the hope leave her eyes "you will…we'll find her and you will"
Reaching into his pocket Daryl's fingers ran over the rough edges of the one thing Riley would need for when Beth was back, the one thing she thought she would never need again, the one thing that would allow her to call Beth her wife…..darling wife….
'Daryl stood a few feet away from Riley and watched her, watched her look between the fence that separated them from what they hoped would be a safe haven to the woods and trees that enclosed them. He then watched as she reached into her pocket and pulled out something gripping it tightly within her fingers before closing her whole hand around it. He took a small step back as Riley moved away from the tree she was leaning against and dropped whatever was enclosed in her hand to the ground, before stepping over it and moving on. Daryl waited until Riley was out of sight before he carefully made his way over to where she stood. Glancing on the ground he searched for whatever his sister had discarded; the breeze blew moving the branches slightly causing the light of the sun to bounce off of something and catch Daryl's eye. He kneeled and picked up the small ring turning it over in his hands; his mind flashing back to the broken down shack and the blonde girl who had stolen his sister's heart. Daryl looked up and squeezed the ring in his hand, pushing himself to his feet he shoved the ring into his pocket "we'll find her Riles….we'll find her…."
"Riley" Daryl rushed out jogging to catch up with her as she neared the church "here" he breathed out grabbing her hand and placing the ring in her palm and closing her hand over it, a slight smirk on his lips
"you're gonna need that"
Riley's eyebrows knotted together in confusion as she looked from her hand over to her brother
"love you Rye bread" he whispered placing a kiss to the top of her head "we'll bring her home…." Riley smiled at Daryl and watched as he walked to the truck followed by Noah and Sasha.
Riley felt another kiss being placed on her head and looked up to see her father "stay safe, stay alert….stay together….we should be back by sundown"
Riley looked at her father and nodded before looking back at the doorway of the church to see Carl and Judith
"we all have jobs"
Rick smiled and pulled the photo out of his back pocket "I'm on it" he whispered kissing Riley on the head once more before moving to the truck and jumping in.
Riley turned and walked up the stairs and into the church allowing Michonne to push the doors closed, it was only then did Riley look down to see what Daryl had given her. A small smile worked its way onto her face as she took in what she thought she had gave up on long ago
Minutes had ticked by before the quietness and soft chirping of the birds was disturbed by the low snarl of something behind her. Standing Riley pulled her crossbow to the front of her body and slowly made her way around the trees; walking a few feet into the thick forest Riley saw a female Walker ambling through the woods. Riley whistled and the Walker turned seeing the girl she started to come forward. Riley held up her bow up and fired; sending the Walker to her knees and then to her face. Riley walked forward to collect her arrow; approaching the Walker she noticed that the woman was wearing what would have once been a white colored dress; flipping the woman over and taking in her whole appearance she saw that the dress the woman wore was indeed a wedding dress. Riley bit her lip and reached down pulling the arrow out "some honeymoon" she mumbled. As Riley went to walk away she noticed a glimmer shine through the still semi darkness of the forest; glancing down she saw the wedding ring that graced the dead woman's small finger. Riley lowered her eyes and thought back to her talk with Herschel. Looking back at the Walker she kneeled back down 'for when I find you' she thought'
Looking at the ring Riley smirked and shoved it into her back pocket filling the void the picture left behind
"for when I get you back"
A/N: Hopefully you enjoyed this and it has you thinking about what could happen next. The next chapter may take awhile because I want it to be perfect (regardless of what direction I may take). I will update my other stories and add the new one I'm thinking about! Reviews and PMs mean the world; love ideas and suggestions!
