A/N: Finally here is the long awaited chapter! This was very tough to write, for a variety of reasons and on top of that I've lost a little bit of motivation and drive and it sucks. I needed to just write this and get it out. I hope you guys like it a little bit. As always I'll take any advice and suggestions I can get. PM's and Reviews mean a lot! Also I apologize for any typo's and such as I had to transfer this from a phone, to a laptop, to a tablet to an actual computer. Lastly thanks to all the followers an people who favorite this story it means a whole freaking bunch!

Chapter Forty-Two: Back to December

"I should be there…..I should be there….."

Michonne looked up from rocking Judith as Riley paced back and forth, her eyes to the floor her hand shoved within her pocket; looking over towards Carl the woman gently handed the baby over to her brother and walked towards the girl

"Riley….Riley….look at me"

Riley stopped and faced Michonne her hands going to the strap of her crossbow

"you need to calm down…."

Riley looked back down to the floor and bit her lip "I should be there Michonne…."

Michonne looked at Riley and placed a hand under her chin lifting her head to look her in the eye "you should be here….remember what you told your dad…" she stopped and looked over to Carl and Judith "this is your job….he has his…."

Michonne spoke softly, lowering her hand down to Riley's and gently loosening the grip she had on the worn material

Riley looked over at Carl and Judith and nodded her head, her hand going to her back pocket only to feel the emptiness

"we all have jobs….this is your job"

'this is your job'

Rick knew it was a mistake, he knew he should have gone with his gut, gone with what he knew would work rather then what might work. His left hand gripped the steering wheel causing the sunlight to bounce off of his wedding ring, narrowing his eyes Rick stopped the car in front of the warehouse and stared blankly out the windshield his mind drifting to his daughter who was counting on him to bring home the love of her life, counting on him to not fail at his job, his duty, his goal…

'this is your job'

Stepping from the car and placing a hand to his gun, Rick looked up to the sky before shaking his head and walking into the warehouse. Once inside he walked by the remaining two officers and over to where Daryl stood determination flashing through his eyes.

"this changes things…."

Daryl looked at Rick before his eyes went over to the officers "it doesn't have to….we still have two of her people"

Rick took a step closer to Daryl "no Daryl….it changes everything, the officer who said this would work is gone…."

Daryl watched as the female officer locked eyes with him "she says it can still work"

Rick looked over to where Daryl was staring "I won't fail her Daryl…."

Rick looked back at the hunter "and I know you don't want to either…"

With those words Rick walked with long strides over to the officers; kneeling he stared the female officer in the eye. Daryl watched as her eyes went from him over to Rick, he watched as she held the stare for a moment before she looked to her partner and back at Rick

"let us help you"

Riley sat looking at the closed door that led to Gabriel's office her leg bounced up and down as she bit nervously on her lip. Her eyes snapped over to Carl who sat leaning against the wall Judith sitting in his lap playing with the fringe from his t shirt. Looking to the back of the church she watched as Michonne stood against the boarded up door her head resting on the broken wood her eyes lowered to the ground. Tearing her eyes away she looked back at the closed door. Reaching into her pocket she pulled the small ring from the depths. Gazing at the ring she couldn't help but let a small smile flash across her lips, raising her eyes to look back at the door, she knew
it was now or never and she pushed herself to her feet. With a shaky breath she knocked lightly on the door before taking a step back and staring down at her boots. When the door creaked open Riley's eyes jerked up as she faced the slightly panic and sweaty face of Father Gabriel

"what…I already took the machete what more do you want…."

Riley's eyes quickly filled with worry and she raised her hands "it's not that…I just…"

Gabriel looked at the girl as she fumbled over her words, he looked back into the office before looking back at Riley "what is it"

Riley squeezed the ring in her hand "I was just wondering….hoping really that if…when they come back and Beth is back" Riley stopped, saying those words out loud made them real and that realness unnerved her "…when Beth is back if you mind…marrying us…" Riley paused again trying to read the Father's expression "I know Beth would like for it to be official" Riley finished making air quotes as she spoke the word

Gabriel looked at the young woman before him "of course…"

Riley's face broke out into a small smirk "really…."

Gabriel smiled "yes really…I would love to….but now if you don't mind…" he spoke looking behind him before slowly closing the door

"right…of course…thank you Gabriel…and hey"

Gabriel stopped a small gap still allowing him access to the outside "it's not always like this" she stopped and looked behind her at the bloody, battered and destroyed sanctuary "….it can be better…and when you meet Beth you'll see that…she's….she's the better….."

"I look forward to it"

All was quiet Riley sat in one of the pews flipping through a worn and torn Bible her thoughts flashing to all the times she had seen Herschel sitting with this very book. As thoughts of the old man drifted through her mind she couldn't help but think about Beth as well. It was Beth's dream to have her father marry her and Riley and because of her that dream would never happen. Riley flipped through the book before setting it onto the seat beside her and pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes, she needed to get over the guilt, the pain, she needed to….

"so what are you going to say"

Riley's eyes jerked over to Carl who looked at her from his seat on the floor; Riley smirked but just as she was about to respond there was a loud bang on the wooden door before screams erupted

"Help! Let me in! Oh, God, please! Help me! Help! Riley! Carl! Michonne! Get back. Please! Help! Help! Help me! Oh, God, please! Let me in! Let me in! Help me! Please, let me in! Please! Help!"

Riley looked quickly at Michonne before jumping over the pew grabbing the discarded ax from the floor as she went

Beth sat on the floor watching Carol as her chest slowly rose and fell with each breath she took. Beth knew that Carol being here meant that she….she was out there; that they were out there and that they were looking, searching….coming. Sighing she pushed herself to her feet and walked towards the bed, she gently picked up the woman's hand and gripped it within hers

"I'm here Carol…." Beth stopped and looked to the door "and their coming….she's coming and we're going to get out of here"

Beth let go of Carol's hand and sat on the edge of the bed, she brought her hand up reaching for the necklace that should have hung at her chest

"I miss her Carol…." Beth started closing her eyes for a moment "….I feel like it's been years since I last saw her…." Beth looked down at the woman letting a small smile grace her lips "I don't know what I'll do when I see her….I know what I like to do" Beth finished with a chuckle feeling her cheeks redden as the words left her lips.

Beth stood and walked to the door "we're going home…."

Riley stood leaning against the fence her eyes watching as Father Gabriel sat leaning against one of the post, with a heave sigh her eyes drifted to the church which know was filled with Walkers

"what are we going to do now"

Her eyes snapped over as Carl walked up to her Judith strapped to his back

"we could try to go back in take them out"

Riley shook her head at the words Michonne spoke "ain't worth it….we try walking towards the city we'll run into Dad and Daryl there or on the way"

Carl looked from Riley to Michonne before the sound of Walkers banging on the already broken doors of the church caught their attention

"we need to leave"

Riley walked over to Gabriel kneeling down to look the man in the eye "you ready…"

Gabriel looked over at his church before locking his brown orbs onto Riley's blue "yeah" she spoke softly "I'm sorry….I don't know…"

"yeah you do…" Riley cut him off "and I do to…."

Riley stood extending a hand, Gabriel looked at it before biting his lip and gripping it pushing himself up off the dirt

The group all stopped when a rumble was heard in the distance; Riley let a smirk and a low chuckle escape her lips at the sight of the bright red fire truck that came barreling down blocking the door to the church muting the sound and snarls of the undead

The door opened and Glenn, Maggie, Abraham and the rest of the gang jumped out

Riley ran over to Glenn embracing her friend "you're back…" she breathed

Glenn squeezed the girl back "Eugene lied"

Riley took a step back her smile falling from her face

"where is everyone else"

Riley's eyes jumped over to Maggie and the smile reappeared "Beth's alive"

Maggie looked over at the Dixon "Daryl and dad went to go get her…we're getting her back Maggie"

Riley sat in the back of the fire truck her forehead pressed against the glass of the window, she watched as the trees, and fields rushed by in a blur in browns and greens

"so getting the love of your life back huh….that's cool"

Riley rolled her head to the side to see Tara looking at her a smile stretching across her face, Riley simple nodded her head before returning her eyes to the rush of muted color

"you got to give her a break….we forgave her"

Riley looked over to see Glenn staring back at her, Maggie sitting beside him they fingers interlocked together, Riley looked over at Tara before looking back at Glenn and nodding her head. From the corner of her eye Riley saw a flash of yellow and jerked her head to look out of Glenn's open window

"stop the truck…stop the truck"

Abraham slammed on the breaks "what the hell happened"

Riley didn't stick around to answer as she was already running across the open road; Glenn and Maggie sat watching from the truck both sharing a knowing look.

Beth sat on the edge of the hospital bed her fingers gripping the smooth cold silver chain of the necklace that was part of her being, part of her soul, part of her heart…..her world. She couldn't help but let a small smile flash quickly across her lips; she was going home, back to where she belonged, back to where her life was, her air, her reason…..her everything.

Dawn had entered the room only half an hour ago to tell her that she was being released, that people were coming….her people, that they had somehow taken hold of two of her officers and the only way to get them back unharmed was to make a trade involving herself and Carol. Dawn then placed her clothes pressed and folded onto the bed the necklace laying gently on top of her yellow polo shirt. The minute Dawn exited the room Beth snatched the necklace gripping it tightly in her hands feeling the edges of the crossbow pendent dig into her palms made it even more real…..she was going home…..going back to Riley…..Riley….Riley…..

Beth quickly dressed and stood looking out the window knowing that Riley was out there and coming to save her. Gripping the necklace Beth wiped away a tear she hadn't known had fallen before letting a small light chuckle leave her lips. She was going to see Riley and she was over the moon. Glancing around the room one last time Beth looked down to the bed seeing the small pair of medical scissors that lay there, biting her lip Beth picked them up and gently placed them inside the cast that line her arm, before turning and walking towards the door. Out in the hallway Beth stood behind Carol her hands griping the handles of the wheelchair so tightly that her knuckles shone white. She watched as shadows danced behind the closed doors a few feet away
before they were pushed opened and the shadows turned into people and the people turned into Rick, Daryl, Sasha and Tyresse. Beth smiled as Noah's face appeared behind Rick; he had made it and had come back to help save her.

Looking around quickly Beth's heart fell as Riley's face was nowhere to be seen, releasing one hand she gripped the necklace fearing that maybe Riley hadn't made it after the prison collapsed, looking up she locked eyes with Daryl; his blue orbs flashing to the necklace before giving her a small smirk and a nod. The fear floated from Beth's being Riley was safe and waiting…..she waited this long she could wait a bit longer…..

It was quiet for a moment, Beth too lost in the thoughts of going home of walking out of this hospital and into the arms of Riley

"one of yours for one of mine"

That was all it took, Beth watched as an officer pushed her aside guiding the wheelchair pushing Carol slowly down the hall stopping halfway where Daryl stood waiting. Beth watched as Daryl helped support Carol and walk her over to where Rick and the rest of her family stood. Beth moved forward a bit, Dawn looked over and locked eyes with her before taking a hold of her arm and walking her down the hall where Rick appeared. Once close enough Rick guided Beth into his arms and lead her down the hall. The two of them froze when Dawn quietly spoke

"glad we could work things out"

Rick turned still with Beth tucked into his arm "yeah" he whispered before turning back

"now I just need Noah and then you can leave"

Rick bit his lip and turned releasing Beth from his hold "that wasn't part of the deal" he spoke voice low and raspy

Dawn looked at Noah and then to Beth before letting out a breath "Noah was my ward…Beth took his place" she spoke gesturing to the blonde "and I'm losing her so I need him back" Beth watched and listened as officers behind Dawn spoke out, watched as Rick countered back, watched as Dawn looked back at her

"well then we don't have a deal…."

Beth watched as Dawn looked at Rick leader to leader, fighter to fighter, survivor to survivor

"the deal is done" Rick replied voice lower and filled with more edge

It was then Noah stepped forward "it's okay…"

"no" both Beth and Rick voiced together

Noah looked at Beth and down to the necklace swinging at her chest. His thoughts going to the girl waiting for her, the other part of soul

"it's okay…"

Beth looked at Noah "I got to do it" he spoke softly he would do this for her…for them….

Dawn reached for Noah "it's settled"

Beth looked at Dawn and watched as a hint of a smile formed on her lips "wait"

Beth walked forward and wrapped Noah in a hug, Noah closed his eyes wrapping his arms around her, feeling the mold of the necklace hit his chest he knew he was doing the right thing "it's okay" he mumbled "go get your girl"

Beth squeezed the boy tighter and then pulled away placing a hand to his cheek

Dawn looked at Noah "I knew you be back" she muttered

Beth's hand dropped and she stared at Dawn before moving to stand in front of her

"I get it now"

With every step Riley took towards the hospital the faster her heart beat became. She looked over and watched as Maggie walked along side Glenn a small smile on her lips. Looking down at the small yellow sunflower gripped tightly in her hands she couldn't help but let a small smile take over her lips as well.

Riley had thought about this day for as long as she knew Beth; she knew Beth had thought about this moment as well and she wanted to make it everything Beth had ever dreamed of. On the way here Riley had even considered not doing it, that something this special, this romantic shouldn't happen at a location that held so much pain, fear and mistrust; but staring at the sunflower and feeling the ring inside her pocket she knew that this was the time, this was the moment, Riley had waited too long and she wouldn't wait a moment longer.

Riley looked towards the large building and let her smile grow as she watched her father push open the door and make his way out followed by the rest of her family. She locked eyes with her father and in that moment she knew, knew something had happened….

It took a spilt second, one step to the left, one gut wrenching cry of pain and disbelief. Riley watched as Maggie fell to the ground Glenn kneeling down behind her, but in that moment there was no sound, no air, no world. Riley watched in slow motion as her father moved to the side and her vision caught sight of Daryl, Daryl holding…..cradling a unmoving, unresponsive, lifeless…..dead Beth….dead…..dead…..dead…..

The world around Riley stopped, she only heard the sound of her own heart thumping in her ears. She watched as Daryl moved a few steps closer to the group, watched as he readjusted his grip on Beth, watched as he looked upon her with sad, broken eyes.

Riley felt like she was drowning…she could let her blue eyes drift from Beth's hanging feet to the small redness that lined her blonde hair

"Riley….Riley…."

Riley's eyes tore away from Beth and looked at her father who stood in front of her his hands gripping her shoulders "Riley you need to breath…"

Riley looked at her fathers blues eyes and saw the sadness, the fear, the panic….the guilt

"breath Riles…" he whispered moving his head to keep the eye connect

Riley watched as Daryl knelt to the ground causing the dimming sunlight to bounce off the silver necklace that hung at Beth's chest

'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'

Riley closed her eyes her hand still gripping the small yellow sunflower

'….you're my Sun….my everything…'

Opening her eyes Riley continued to watch Beth's lifeless body "the picture…."

Rick looked at Riley fear overtaking his body, he had failed…..and Riley was gone

"the picture….give me the picture….give me the picture…..give me the picture…..the picture….the picture….."

A/N: crappy, crappy, crappy I'm so sorry! I needed to get past this chapter it was hard writing Beth dying but I know it needed to happen because it will change the characters for the better (maybe the worse) especially Riley. I hope you like it at least a little bit. As always reviews, suggestions, ideas and advice mean the world to me! For the next chapter would you like Riley to go along with Rick, Michonne, Glenn and Tyresse when they go to Noah's home town or would you like a small chapter involving Riley staying behind? Thank You!