The sun was shining down hot on Beth as she walked briskly along the road, her boots scraping lightly on the concrete road as the planted trees around her cast short shadows out over the dry road. To the right of her was a small lake, glistening and clean in the morning sun, birds flittering over it, admiring their own reflections. On occasion, someone would leave one of the houses or cross the road, and the sight of them still took Beth by surprise. In the distance she could hear the sound of children's voices, clear and cheerful. It was amazing to Beth to think that some of – most of, she thought – these people had been hidden away here since the beginning, living out their daily lives as if nothing had happened. They had not known the loss her group had known, not seen the devastation, the violence, the savagery of the world as it was now.

Beth passed the lake and stepped up onto the small brick path that led to the infirmary. She was nervous as she stepped up onto the wooden veranda that led to the front door, and she found her hands twitching at her belt, looking for the knife that was no longer there.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked, and then slowly walked in.

The room beyond was light and clean, with the unmistakable scent of bleach in the air. The place was a house that had been altered, so there was a large fireplace and another kitchen island within the open space, but instead of sofas there was a single bed and a high hospital recliner. The furniture and the stacked shelves of medicines and medial instruments had Beth coming over a little cold as images of Grady flashed through her head, but she took a deep breath and tired to push it away. This was not Grady. This place was good.

'Hi, you must be Beth.'

A sandy haired man was sitting at the desk in the room; he closed the book he had been reading and stood up, his chair scraping on the wooden floor as it moved.

'I'm Pete,' he said.

'Hi,' Beth said, stepping further into the room.

'Well, let me show you what we got here,' Pete smiled, gesturing his arms out around him. He stepped around his desk and led Beth across the room, pointing out the different cabinets and the different ingredients they held. Beth listened carefully, nodding as he spoke, trying to take in and remember everything he said.

'How many people live here in Alexandria?' Beth asked after Pete had shown her through to the other back rooms.

'About forty-five,' Pete said, scratching his chin. 'That was before your group joined though.'

'Do you get many patients? Many accidents?' Beth asked.

'Some,' Pete shrugged. 'Minor ailments, coughs and colds, and then I do a check up on those who return from supply runs or scouting.'

Pete offered Beth a seat then sat himself back down behind his desk. He pushed his light hair back from his face and smiled.

'I've got some assignments for you to do,' he said, 'but first I'd like to hear about your own experience – Deanna mentioned you had some and that your father was a man of medicine. I think you can pick up what we do here pretty easy, but it would be good for me to know what you're already capable of.'

Beth sat back in her own chair and nodded, casting her mind over all the various things she had done, beginning with Daryl's stitches and moving on to her time in Grady. She decided she would leave out some of the finer details there – admitting you had administered the wrong medication and killed a man was not a good way to open up a job interview in an infirmary.

–

It was just past five o'clock, and Beth was alone in the kitchen of the larger house, sipping at a glass of water; it still amazed her that such clear and perfectly drinkable water ran so easily from a tap. Something she had definitely taken for granted back in her old life.

The Alexandrians had even kept track of time, which was how Beth knew it was five o'clock, by the ticking clock on the wall in the kitchen. It mesmerised her, watching the second hand tick its way around the face, bringing the reality of time back into their lives.

Her day had been relatively uneventful; she had met a few of the other inhabitants as they had come to the infirmary for minor check ups or refills of their medication, but the day itself had been slow. She figured that it was going to take some getting used to, working nine til five, living a relatively mundane, normal life, after having been out on the road for so long. It didn't seem right, felt like she was playing at make believe, but she was willing to give it a shot.

A light knock on the door caused her to look up, where a blonde woman was smiling at her through the glass.

Beth put her glass down and gingerly walked over, a little wary of this random newcomer. She pulled open the door.

'Hi, there,' the woman smiled. 'I'm Jessie. Deanna asked me to bring over some clothes for you all.' She held up the box she was carrying in her arms so Beth could see. She peered over at the assortment of soft fabrics she could see folded over one another.

'Oh, thanks,' Beth said. 'I'm Beth.'

She opened the door a little wider so the woman could walk in.

'So you're Beth,' Jessie said as she walked across the wooden floor and placed the box down on the island counter top. 'You worked with my husband Pete today.'

'Oh,' Beth smiled. 'Yeah. He seems nice.'

Jessie nodded back with a smile; she put her hands in her pockets and cast her eyes around the house, spotting the blankets they had used to sleep with the night before.

'So how are you all liking it here?' She asked.

Beth nodded slowly.

'I think we're settling in,' she said.

'It will take some time getting used to,' Jessie replied, and her smile became a little more understanding. 'It's okay if you're not okay with it yet.'

Beth nodded.

'I have two boys,' Jessie said, 'Ron and Sam. Sometimes I wonder if they remember anything other than this world.' She looked down for a moment, her face growing serious. 'Which is why this place is so good. It allows us all some normality.'

Beth nodded.

'Are – are your parents here with you?' Jessie asked softly.

Beth shook her head.

'No. I lost both of them.'

'I'm so sorry,' Jessie said softly.

'It's okay. I have my sister – Maggie? Short dark hair. And everyone else – they're my family now.'

Jessie nodded, her warm smile returning.

'Well Deanna is hosting a small party tonight – in honour of our new guests. Hopefully I can meet and get to know you all there, especially Maggie.' She said.

'Oh,' Beth replied; this was the first she had heard of a party. 'Yeah, that would be good.' She smiled.

'You know, you've got beautiful hair Beth,' Jessie smiled, 'I used to be a stylist before all this. I could trim it for you, neaten it up?'

Beth twirled a finger through a loose lock of her blonde hair, feeling a little self conscious. She had pulled it all back and tied it up this morning, but she knew it was growing out of hand. Her blonde curls had always been unruly, but now they were dry and split.

'Okay,' she shrugged, 'sure.'

'Come on over,' Jessie smiled, 'I have a dress you can wear for tonight, too.'

Beth discovered that all the houses in Alexandria were incredibly similar; she could tell people had lived in this one for a while though, for this house held flourishes of people, touches of personality that their own show room houses did not have. Jessie's home held a lot more artwork, with paintings on the walls and kooky sculptures and ornaments on the surfaces. As Jessie led Beth in through the sitting room, Beth noticed the easel and the paintbrushes lying around, as well as the toys. The house even smelt different – lived in.

Jessie led Beth past her own island kitchen, past the fridge that held a child's paintings, and through into the dining room, which lay just beside the kitchen in a little alcove. She pulled out one of the chairs and gestured for Beth to sit.

Beth sat a little gingerly, feeling a little weird in this new woman's home.

'I'll be right back,' Jessie said, then she disappeared down a corridor just behind the kitchen, and Beth heard her quick, hurried footsteps up the stairs.

Beth looked around herself, feeling strange and out of place. The house was neat and tidy, but it held splashes of personality – the coffee mugs in the stand looked used, wet plates on the drying rack, a tea towel flung haphazardly on the countertop.

Beth heard voices drift down the stairs, and she began to grow fidgety in her chair. It was not long however until Jessie returned with her equipment and a smile, lying the instruments down on the table beside Beth. Jessie set about undoing Beth's hair, allowing the light curls to fall down over her shoulders, her hands soft and delicate yet quick and professional.

'I hope Pete wasn't too harsh with you today,' Jessie said lightly, as she begun to comb through her locks.

'Oh no not at all,' Beth said. 'He was very nice to me.'

'Good, that's good.' Jessie said. 'He should be home soon.'

'He won't mind that I'm - ' Beth began, but Jessie brushed her off.

'No, no not at all,' she said, 'he'll probably just go straight to his study anyway.'

Beth nodded, then remembered she was supposed to be keeping still.

Jessie worked efficiently, her scissors snapping away at Beth's hair, her comb pulling through knots that had probably been in there for years. She chatted idly with her as she worked, telling her about her paintings and her work in the pantry; whilst Beth sat in this strangers home, the light sounds of people moving about and chatting outside, listening to this completely new woman make small talk with her, Beth realised that she quite liked Jessie. There was a friendly warmness to her that she had not found in anybody for a long time, save maybe Noah, but even he too had been hurt and pushed down a few too many times. More importantly, Jessie's warmth seemed genuine.

Jessie patted her on the shoulders and stepped back.

'All done,' she said, coming round to look at Beth from the front. 'I styled it a little for you too – it frames your face beautifully. Even with those cuts and scars – you're a very pretty girl! I had better keep you away from my boys!'

Beth laughed, a blush creeping its way into her face.

'Come on up with me, I'll show you that dress.' Jessie smiled.

Beth brushed herself down and stood. Having been sat for a while, and undoubtedly the strains of the last few days, standing caused Beth's head to swim, and she stumbled a little, having to grab a hold of the table beside her for support.

'You okay?' Jessie asked, reaching out to grab Beth's arm; her face was panicked, her hazel eyes wide.

Beth nodded.

'Yeah, yeah,' she said, a touch breathless. 'Just came over a little dizzy. I'm fine.'

Jessie looked at her for a moment, then nodded.

The older woman led the younger one out into the corridor behind the kitchen and up the stairs. She chatted idly about the houses and the keeping of them, mentioning the sustainability of the water system and the good pressure of the showers. Beth listened as she walked, but her eyes were taking in the sights – the artwork carried on up the stairs and along the walls of the hallway, colours and textures all applied beautifully to large canvases.

The door to Jessie and Pete's master bedroom was just past an open bedroom door; Beth couldn't help but glance in as they passed. A boy around her own age was laying on the bed, reading what looked like a comic. He looked up as they passed.

'You going to be ready to go to Deanna's in a while, Ron?' Jessie asked her son as she passed.

'Yup,' Ron said, looking back down at his comic.

'My son Ron,' Jessie explained as she ushered Beth into her own room. 'He's seventeen.'

Beth nodded as Jessie walked across to her large wardrobe, which she opened and rummaged through. She pulled out a dress and turned around to face Beth, holding it out and smoothing it down in front of herself. The dress was a predominately green, long sleeved number, covered with patterns of whites and purples and browns. The fabric was billowy and light, with a brown belt around the middle.

'It's very pretty,' Beth said honestly.

'Here – it will suit you.' Jessie said, holding it out.

'Oh, no, I couldn't - ' Beth said, but Jessie just smiled and shook her head.

'I never wear it,' she shrugged. 'It'll look better on you.'

Beth took it, running her fingers over the fabric. It was smooth and cool to the touch.

'There's the en-suite through there if you want to change and freshen up,' Jessie said.

'Thank you,' Beth said honestly, feeling a little overwhelmed at the kindness this stranger was willing to show to her.

She took the dress and herself through into the bathroom; she took the chance to look at herself in the mirror, turning her head this way and that to admire the way Jessie had styled her hair. It was smooth, waving down over her shoulders and ending in neat curls. She had not seen it looking so neat in a long while.

Carefully, she wriggled out of her own clothes and ran the tap in the basin, splashing her face with the cool water and under her arms to freshen up. Then she pulled the pretty dress on over herself, the fabric soft against her warm skin. She zipped it up and tightened the belt around her waist, pleased that she still could. Her stomach was still pretty flat, but her body was definitely beginning to rounden up. She pulled her cowboy boots back on and stepped back to look at herself.

She looked pretty.

Her face was still pale and scarred, her eyes dark and tired, but her hair was smoothly shaping it and the dress was indeed flattering her shape. She turned, a smile appearing on her lips.

Slowly, she came out of the bathroom to find Jessie talking to her son in the doorway. Both of them turned to look at her as she stepped out.

'Ah there you go!' Jessie exclaimed. 'You look lovely!'

'Thank you,' Beth beamed.

Jessie smiled back, folding her arms across her chest and looking Beth up and down. Her son, Ron, was watching her too.

'I should get going,' Beth said, a blush in her cheeks.

'Of course,' Jessie said. 'We'll see you over at Deanna's.'

'Uh huh,' Beth nodded. 'Thanks again.'

'No worries,' Jessie smiled. 'You're very welcome.'

Beth left Jessie's house and walked back to her own feeling light and happy. The dress floated about her thighs, the evening sun still warm on her bare legs – bruised but smooth and clean. Her hair felt healthy as it bounced about her, cascading down over her shoulders and down her back. Being pretty was not everything, but it certainly did help, she thought, as she walked along feeling lighter and happier than she had in weeks. As she reached her house, the door opened, and Maggie and Glen stepped out. Maggie spotted her and waved her over. Maggie herself was in a dress, her own dark hair down around her shoulders.

'Where have you been?' she asked as Beth stopped before the steps that led up to the veranda.

'Over at Jessie's,' Beth said. 'She styled my hair.'

'I can see that. It looks good – but why?' Maggie asked, tilting her head as she looked over her baby sister.

Beth shrugged; she wasn't really sure of that herself.

'You coming to Deanna's?' Glen asked.

Beth nodded as she fell into step beside her sister and brother in law as the sun began to set on Alexandria, casting it in a warm, summery glow. Both Glen and Maggie seemed in high spirits, chatting idly as they made their way down the street and towards Deanna's family home. As they neared, Beth could see the lights spilling out from the windows, the shadows of people moving around behind the glass, a light muffle of distant voices. Maggie approached the stairs and began to ascend, but a familiar smell caused Beth to pause as she went to follow. She turned her head to squint across to the bushes that fell just beyond the light.

Daryl nodded to her through the darkness, his face lit softly by the small glow of his cigarette.

'Hey, man.' Glen had noticed him too. 'What you doing lurking out here?'

'Stopped f'a smoke,' he shrugged, taking the smoke from his mouth and lowering it slightly, his dark eyes sweeping over Beth.

'Y'coming in?' Maggie asked, her hand paused on the handle of the door.

'You two go on in,' Beth said. 'We'll follow you in a second.'

Maggie looked down at her little sister, but she nodded. She opened the door, allowing the light from the inside to spill out, and the low sound of music escape and wash over Beth, evoking a strange mix of joy and sorrow, all intermingled with a swell of nostalgia.

Glen nodded to them before following his wife into the room and closing the door behind them, bathing Beth back into darkness and a muffled silence.

'Hey,' she spoke softly into the night, offering Daryl an unsure smile.

'Hi,' he nodded back.

'What's going on?' she asked, as he chucked his cigarette onto the gravel beneath him and stepped out into the dim light.

'Rick said t'come,' Daryl said. 'I was gonna – but I-' he shrugged. 'It aint really me.'

Beth looked behind her at the large house, its grand stone steps and big front door, the changing shapes of people and things within in. She nodded.

'I guess not.' She said. 'But we're supposed to be making an effort here. Do you want to come in with me?'

Daryl looked her up and down for a moment.

'Nah,' he said. 'Y'go in. I'ma go home. Get some rest.'

Beth bit her lip.

'No,' she said back. 'I don't really fancy it without you. Let the others do the socialising. I'll come back with you.'

Daryl looked at Beth, and for a moment Beth thought he was going to tell her no, but instead he nodded. She smiled, waiting for him to join her on the path.

'Y'look good,' he said a little gruffly. Beth grinned.

'Thank you,' she said.

'Not in the partying mood, then?' She asked as they began to make their way back towards their houses.

'Nah.' He grunted. 'Were you?'

'Not really,' Beth shrugged. She would not have been bothered either way, but some quality time with Daryl definitely seemed better than pretending everything was perfectly normal in a stranger's house.

'It's stupid.' Daryl said.

'What is?' Beth asked, cocking her head.

'This. Parties. Playin' families.'

'Is it?' Beth asked softly.

'Uh huh. These people in here, actin' like the whole shit show beyond the walls aint happenin'. It's dumb. They're dumb.'

'I don't think they're dumb,' Beth said quietly. 'They have hope. Living with hope isn't dumb. It gives us something to live for, a reason to keep going. What do we have without hope?'

Daryl looked down at her, his face softly lit by the street lights they stepped under, the light dancing in his dark eyes. He didn't look convinced.

'We could do to live with some of that hope.' Beth said, folding her arms across the chest of her billowing dress. 'And as for that whole shit show outside those gates – it is happening, and no amount of walls is going to change that. We've been out there, lived it, seen it. Living in a house and sleeping in a bed don't change that.' She reached out and took his hand.

'We can afford to have some hope, though. To attend some parties. It doesn't make us dumb and it wont make us weak. We know what's out there and it's changed us – we're different to everyone else here, but that doesn't mean we cant take some of their hope. We are strong. Nothing can change that. We can live here, behind these walls, and still be strong.'

Daryl stopped Beth and turned her to face him, his hand still in hers. With his free hand, he stroked her now smooth and softly curled hair back from her face.

'Yer right,' he murmured, his dark eyes intense on hers. 'I guess it ain't gon' kill us t'have a little hope.'

'Not at all,' Beth murmured back.

'What would I do without you, girl?' he smiled softly.

'You'd be a very lonely man, Daryl Dixon,' Beth chuckled, leaning up on the tips of her toes to plant a kiss against his stubbly lips.

Daryl smiled down at her, those same lips twitching up into a half smile.

'Hey,'

Daryl and Beth turned at the same time to see Aaron standing on his own porch, smiling down at them. Beth noticed Daryl dropped her hand.

'Thought y'were goin' t'that party?' Daryl said gruffly.

Aaron smiled.

'Oh no, I was never going on account of Eric's ankle.'

Daryl nodded.

'Why don't you both come in, have some dinner?' Aaron offered. 'We just made spaghetti and Eric made way too much as usual.'

Daryl shook his head as Beth just watched him.

'C'mon man,' Aaron smiled. 'It's some pretty serious spaghetti.'

Beth gently nudged Daryl and he sighed, giving in. With Beth in tow, he headed up onto Aaron's porch and allowed himself to be gestured into the house beyond.

Beth followed, stepping into the warmth and the light, where the smell of freshly made foot hit her straight away. The response was automatic, and Beth's stomach instantly rumbled and she took in a deep breath of the tantalising aroma that had filled the house.

The front door opened directly into a kitchen, dining, lounge set up that was similar to the one in the second house Beth's family had been given, but much like Jessie's, this house was full of human touches; the walls were adorned with a mixture of signs and plaques, and Beth noticed the mass of number plates covering the walls. It was odd, but Beth appreciated how they had tried so hard to make the place homely and decorated in their own way.

'Hello,' Eric smiled, as he set down a large bowl of pasta into the middle of a wooden table.

'We've got some dinner guests,' Aaron said. 'Is that okay?'

'Oh, absolutely,' Eric beamed. 'Come on in, sit down. There's plenty.'

Beth stepped a little gingerly across the wooden floor as Eric pulled out a chair for her.

'It's Beth, right?' Eric asked as she sat herself down. Beth nodded. 'That's a beautiful dress, Beth.' He said.

'Thank you,' Beth smiled up at him.

Daryl sat down beside her, looking grubby and out of place in the clean and well lit room.

Aaron sat himself down in front of Beth as Eric settled himself down beside him and began to dish up the food. Beth watched with perhaps a little too much fascination as Eric ladled a mass of piping hot pasta from the dish, the sound of the tomato sauce squelching as it lifted. She swallowed. Was she drooling?

Eric handed her a plate and she found herself licking her lips.

'This looks amazing,' she said honestly.

'Go ahead,' Aaron smiled, and Beth did not need to be told twice.

The pasta was indeed amazing; Beth closed her eyes as she sampled the flavour – flavour she had not tasted in years.

None of them spoke much as they ate, allowing for both Beth and Daryl to appreciate the hot, tasty food before them, knowing full well it had been too long since they had had anything so good. There were real tomatoes, real mushrooms, real onions in the dish, and Beth was excited to give her baby some good nutrients. There was a real warm, happy glow about her as she ate.

'Thanks,' Daryl said after a while, having cleared his own plate, which he had sat hunched over.

'You're very welcome,' Eric smiled. 'You can always make it up to us by keeping an eye out for a pasta maker. When you're out there, if you happen to be in a store or something, Mrs. Neudermyer is really looking for a pasta maker. And we're all really trying to get her to shut up about it.' He laughed. 'I mean, we have crates of dried pasta in here, but she wants to make her own or something. I really think she just wants something to talk about, so if you see one out on your travels, it would go a long way to...' He looked across to Aaron who was looking at him, and his smile faded. 'I thought it was done.' He said apologetically. 'You didn't ask him already?'

Daryl swallowed and looked across at both of the men.

'Ask me what?' he grunted.

Aaron smiled and pushed himself away from the table, his chair scraping across the wooden floor. He stood up and gestured for Daryl to follow him. Daryl pushed himself up, and after a moment, Beth got up too, curious to see what Aaron was talking about.

Aaron led the pair of them out into the corridor and opened a door that led to a garage.

'When I got the place, there was that frame and some parts and equipment.' Aaron said as he stepped down into the middle of the room, pulling a blanket away to reveal a motorbike. 'Whoever lived here built them.'

'S'a lot of parts for one bike,' Daryl said.

Beth, standing back in the doorway, looked around the room, seeing far too many wheels for one bike laying around the place.

'Whenever I came across any parts out there, I brought them back.' Aaron shrugged. 'I didn't know what I'd need. I always thought I'd learn how to do it, but I get the feeling you already know what to do with it.' He said. 'And the thing is, you're going to need a bike.'

Daryl turned to look at the man, his brow furrowing.

'Why?' He asked.

'I told Deanna not to give you a job because I think I have one for you.' He said. 'I'd like you to be Alexandria's other recruiter. I don't want Eric risking his life anymore.'

Daryl scoffed.

'You want me risking mine, right?' Daryl asked.

'Yeah, because you know what you're doing.' Aaron replied. 'You're good out there. But you don't belong out there. I know it's hard getting used to people getting used to you. And I understand right now you need to be out there sometimes. So do I. But the main reason why I want you to help me recruit is because you do know the difference between a good person and a bad person.'

Beth listened to Aaron speak, her hands hanging limply beside her side as she stared, wide eyed, at the bike before them.

'Cant you – I mean isn't there-' she stammered, but she was unsure herself of what she wanted to say.

'I got nothing else to do,' Daryl said, his dark eyes sweeping over to her. 'I could do some good.'

'Why put yourself in danger, though?' she asked.

'Aaron's right, I wont be in danger. I know wha'I'm doin'.'

'Isn't there something else?' Beth asked, moving her blue eyes over to Aaron. 'Something here – something that doesn't take Daryl away from here... away from me?'

Aaron looked at her, but it was Eric who answered.

'I get how you feel,' he said softly, 'but it will be okay. They will be okay.'

'They'll be gone for days at a time,' Beth said, turning to look pleadingly at Eric now.

'They'll come back,' Eric smiled.

'Yer'll be fine without me,' Daryl said, forcing Beth to look back at him.

'Maybe so,' she shrugged. 'But I don't want to be.'

'I can do a good thing, girl. Help people, bring 'em back here. Thought you'd want that.' He said.

Beth bit her lip, one hand instinctively going to her belly, feeling vulnerable and alone surrounded by people, under pressure and small beneath the scrutiny of Aaron and Eric, both of whom were smiling at her, attempting to reassure her. But she was not reassured.

'Daryl,' she said quietly, but she knew he would hear her. 'I don't want you to do this.'

Daryl looked steadily at her, his eyes dark and serious.

'Why?' He asked.

Beth swallowed.

'It makes me uncomfortable.' She said. 'What if something happened to you and I didn't know? What if you just never came back? What do I do then?'

'You get on wi'ya life.' Daryl said. 'Tha's how things work now.'

Beth shook her head, ignoring the way Aaron was watching her.

'No.' She said. 'It isn't that simple.'

Daryl ran a hand down his face with a sigh, clearly bored of Beth's apparent tantrum.

'Yer gonna have t'deal wi'this, Beth.' He said. 'I said I'd do it.'

'You don't have to decide now -' Aaron interjected, seeming a little nervous at the tension that was rapidly building. 'You can go away and think about it.'

'Daryl -' Beth swallowed again and bit her lip. He was looking at her cautiously, his eyes narrowed behind his hair. Aaron was ignored.

'I don't want to be here alone. I don't want to do this alone.' Beth said. Her heart was thumping and her hands were growing clammy. She wiped them on the side of her dress.

'Wha'dya mean?' Daryl frowned, his voice low.

'I - ' she took a deep breath. 'I'm pregnant.'

The atmosphere around them changed instantly; Beth heard Eric gasp, saw Aaron's eyes widen, but it was Daryl's face she cared about. Her heart was hammering inside her chest, the spaghetti she had just eaten now bitter and laying uncomfortable inside of her. Her face grew hotter and hotter as Daryl just looked at her in silence. His eyes were steady, but Beth believed she could see the colour draining from his face. He pressed his lips together until they were no more than a tight line, and Beth could see he was grinding his jaw.

'Pregnant?' He finally asked.

'Yes.' Beth said timidly.

'Y'sure?'

Beth nodded.

'I'm positive.' She said.

Daryl was frowning as he begun to shake his head. He wiped the palms of his hand along his thighs, and Beth thought she could see him trembling.

'Is it mine?'

Beth frowned at him, offended.

'Of course it is.' She said.

Daryl rose his hand and ran it down his face, groaning, before letting it drop and balling both hands into fists.

'How long have y'known?' He asked.

'A little while.' Beth admitted.

'Le'me get this straight,' he said, taking a shuddering breath through gritted teeth. His shoulders were tensed and he ran his hand down his face again, pulling at the skin and pausing to scratch through the stubble of his chin. 'Yer pregnant with – with my baby and y'didn't think t'fuckin' tell me.'

'I was going to - I was waiting for the right time – something always got in the way.' Beth said, her own voice shaking.

'That's bullshit an' yer know it. You were putting things in the way.' He snapped.

'I was scared – scared that you'd react like this!' Beth shouted.

'Don't.' He said, shaking his head. 'Jus' don't.'

He pushed past Aaron and then Beth, shoving her off as she tried to reach out and grab his arm as he passed.

'Where are you going?' Beth asked, her voice hitching on a note of panic.

'Gotta clear m'head.' He said.

'Stay and talk to me!' Beth pleaded. 'Come back to the house with me!'

'I need t'get out.' He said. 'Away.'

Beth stayed where she was, rooted to the spot, watching as Daryl stormed away from her. She listened in dismay as he walked across the wooden floor, as the front door opened and slammed behind him. Her heart was racing and her stomach felt as if it had just fallen open, and her innards had plummeted, scattering out across the floor. She took a deep, shaky breath to steady herself, as Eric stepped around to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

'Get her a glass of water,' he told a shocked and pale Aaron. Aaron closed his mouth and nodded, attempting to regain his composure before a slowly breaking Beth.