Beth woke the next morning to a throbbing coccyx; twisting herself before the mirror showed her it was bruised. She groaned as she prodded at the tender flesh, then decided to draw herself a bath. Warm, soapy water and quiet was what she needed right now.

She lowered herself into the warm water once the tub was full, revelling in the heat as it soaked into her sore skin and seemingly into her tender bones. She let her hair down and closed her eyes, letting herself lay there, enveloped in musky warmth and sweet scents of honey, allowing herself to slip lower and lower until her chin was just about above water.

Her eyes snapped open as she heard the door to the bedroom open; she panicked for a second, before Daryl appeared at the adjoining door.

'Hey,' he said.

Beth sat up, water sloshing slightly over the bath and onto the floor.

'You're back,' she said. 'How did it – I mean did you – uh.' She cleared her throat.

Daryl shrugged off his vest and threw it behind him on the bed.

'It's done.' He said.

'Done?' Beth asked softly.

Daryl looked at her for a moment, then came into the small room, and Beth could clearly see the deep lines carved into his tired face – he suddenly looked a lot older.

'They're dead.' He said. 'It's done.'

Despite the heat of the bath Beth sat in, she felt herself go cold. She swallowed, her eyes sweeping over Daryl as he stood there before her.

'Was there a fight?' Beth asked after a while.

Daryl didn't speak to a moment, just standing where he was, his eyes on the edge of the bath.

He shrugged.

'Daryl?' Beth asked softly.

Daryl looked at her then, and Beth could see, behind the still, emotionless features, there was a shifting conflict.

'Hey,' she said, twisting in the bath and reaching out to him – her fingers brushed his hand, and he stepped forward to let her hold it. He looked down at her then, with a sigh, and crouched down beside the tub, folding his arms over the edge and looking at her.

'What matters is we won.' He said.

'If you're not telling me things because you think I can't handle it – you're wrong.' Beth said, gently stroking a damp hand over his arm.

'Nah it ain't – ' He sighed. 'It was an ambush.' He said. 'We lured them out. Got 'em to believe it was just the guy from Hill Top. He went back t'get the guy they were holdin' captive and we snuck up on 'em. I slit the throat of the one on watch. Opened the door for Rick. We found 'em sleepin' in their beds.' He looked at Beth, who was trying to keep her face straight, her breathing even. 'We killed 'em as they slept. Glenn, too. I've never seen him look so pale, so… done.' He let out a heavy breath. 'The alarm got 'em up but it didn't get 'em ready. They came at us on th' stairs but Rick jus' – he jus' mowed 'em all down. Bodies piling up. Yeah, they fought back, they shot at us and some of us did get injured – but they never stood a chance. Not really.'

Beth's hand had stilled against his arm.

Daryl let out a huff that Beth believed was supposed to be a laugh.

'Then we bled them dry. Took their guns. Their ammo.'

Beth breathed, seeing the way his face paled, the way his lip trembled as he spoke. He would fight for anyone, for all of them, he would never back down or complain – but that didn't mean it didn't affect him. Beth knew that when he closed his eyes that night he would see nothing but the sea of bodies laid out before him.

'Come here,' she said, scooting up in the bath. 'Get in.'

'What?' He frowned, backing up.

'It's warm, and calm.' She said. 'Nothing weird. Just get in.'

Daryl looked at her, and Beth fully believed he was going to tell her to get lost, but to her surprise, he pulled his shirt off over his head, then stood and pulled off his pants. With nothing left covering his bruised body, he clambered in, the water rising at it was displaced.

He settled down behind Beth, enveloping her between his strong thighs and wrapping his arms around her; she heard him sigh as he settled. They were naked and touching beneath the hot, soapy water, but it somehow wasn't sexual. Instead it felt relaxing, comforting, like both the water and the contact was healing. Daryl closed his eyes and leant his head back against the wall, the water sloshing against his chest.

'You're going to get blood in my bath,' Beth said softly, looking gently over her shoulder at him.

'You invited me in.' He said.

'Mm.' Beth just smiled, trying not to think that any of the blood that had soaked through to his own skin belonged to anyone else. Some-one who's life he had just ended. She closed her eyes, the back of her head against his hot chest.

They were quiet for a while, their bodies healing in the warmth of the water and the surrounding steam, breathing down the pleasant scent and with it the calming properties.

'Was you alright while I was gone?' Daryl asked her after a while, opening his eyes to look at her.

'Yeah,' Beth said quietly.

'Anything happen?'

Beth looked down at her hazy body through the water; she sighed, knowing he would find out soon enough anyway.

'Pete is dead.' She said.

Daryl furrowed his brows in a way Beth knew as 'explain.'

'I went to see Jessie,' Beth said, sitting forward and running her hands through the bubbles in her lap. 'Pete was there. He'd been drinking. He attacked Jessie, but Ron pulled him off, then he attacked Ron.' She heard Daryl growl in his throat. 'I think Jessie snapped – she hit him. Over the head. With a brick.'

She couldn't see Daryl behind her, but she could feel his piercing gaze on her, and it set her stomach and her nerves on edge. But then she both felt and heard him sigh.

'Can't say he didn't deserve it.' He said.

Beth bit her lip.

'No,' she said. 'Neither can I.'

He chuckled lightly behind her, and Beth allowed herself to relax back in to him again, closing her eyes. As she lay there, the water lapping lightly at her exposed curves, she felt a twinge in her side. She frowned, stilling, as it seemed to flutter across her stomach –

'Ouch!' She gasped, sitting up and pressing her hand to her belly.

'What?' Daryl moved with her, his hands moving to her arms.

'The baby!' Beth laughed. She grabbed Daryl's hand and placed it on her stomach, applying slight pressure. The baby kicked again, harder this time.

She felt Daryl flinch behind her, but he didn't move his hand; Beth laughed, rubbing her free hand over the top of her belly – it seemed to be growing steadily now, and their little one, safe and sound inside, seemed to have decided it was time to make itself known. She grinned.

'Strong little fucker,' Daryl said gruffly from behind her.

'It's a Dixon.' Beth beamed.

Beth and Daryl left the house at the same time, around midday. They were heading across to the house next door, where Rick had asked them to gather. As they stepped over the hubcaps Daryl insisted remained around their house, Daryl took Beth's hand to help steady her, and he didn't let go of it as they walked the rest of the way.

Daryl pushed the door open and walked them both in – the majority of their family were already there. Beth saw Morgan there too, stood over by one of the windows. There were a few other recognisable faces around the room, those from Alexandria who had grown close to them, who had fought and were willing to fight with them. Jessie was not there, and Beth wondered whether she would show. Daryl led Beth over to the table and let her sit, himself deigning to stand beside her like an ever present watch-dog.

Rick was talking with Michonne over by the kitchen counter; Beth watched them. After a while, Maggie came in with Glenn. Rick turned to say something to them, and Beth noticed how tired they both look. She smiled to her sister as she came in, pulling out a chair and sitting opposite her. Unlike Daryl, Glenn sat too, moving his chair closer to Maggie than it was. Beth saw him hold her hand.

Rick cleared his throat.

'Those of you that weren't there,' he said slowly, 'we took out Negan's men last night. We did our part. Now Hilltop have to do theirs. We'll take today, but tomorrow, first thing, we'll head out to Hill Top to claim what we were promised.'

There were a few murmurs around the room at that, some pleased and some not so. Not all of them seemed happy with their new status as missionary for hire.

'And Negan?' Someone asked. 'Is he dead?'

Rick looked to Michonne.

'We can't be sure.' He said. 'But yes. We think so.'

Beth looked down at her hands in her lap.

'So what happens now?' Someone else asked.

'We get our supplies.' Rick said.

'Just this one?' Someone asked, and Beth knew these were Alexandrian's asking.

'We made a deal.' Maggie said, looking over at whoever had just spoken. 'We took over from Negan's deal.'

'So that makes us as bad as Negan.' They replied. 'Taking.'

'No,' Rick said. 'Negan gave nothing in return. We did. We took out the threat for them.'

'What about now, though?' Morgan asked. 'Now the threat has been taken out.'

'There will always be other threats.' Daryl said.

'So it's protection.' Glenn said. 'Exactly what Negan was offering.'

'No,' Rick said sternly. 'We are not Negan. Anything we have that they need we will offer back – for a price. That is how communities work. That is how communities thrive.'

There were murmurs again around the room as people discussed this; Beth was unsure where she herself stood on it – she looked to Maggie, who's face was set. Maggie had been the one to strike the deal, after all.

'Tomorrow,' Rick said again. 'Tomorrow we get our supplies. It is a good thing. We won't be hungry any more. We can begin to look forward.'

The murmurs were a little louder now, and Beth felt the shift in the mood.

She cleared her throat.

'I – I have something I want to say,' she said, feeling her cheeks redden as people turned to look at her. Maggie raised her eyebrows, but Daryl laid an arm on her shoulder – they had discussed this after the bath, and whilst Daryl had been wary, he had agreed with her. Anything that would keep her safer was good in his eyes.

She swallowed, wondering how best to put it. Simply, she supposed. Taking strength from Daryl's warm hand on her, she said 'I'm pregnant.'

It was quiet for a moment, then people began to talk at the same time – Maggie was smiling across at her.

'How far?' Carol asked.

'Six months,' Beth said, her lips curling in to a smile.

'No!' Michonne cried. 'You're so small!'

'Six months?' Carol asked, her eyebrows raising. 'Are you sure?'

Beth laughed.

'Yeah,' she breathed. 'We saw the doctor at Hill Top.'

'Hey,' Tara said, leaning forward on the sofa. 'Congrats.'

'Thanks,' Beth nodded.

'This is what we need,' Rick beamed, spreading his arms out. 'A future. Something to look forward to, to work towards. Beth, Daryl – congratulations.'

Beth nodded, feeling like a weight had been lifted – she hadn't even realised how much pressure it had been putting on her. Now she could embrace her pregnancy, out in the open. Her relationship with Daryl had been rocky from the start, a dirty secret, and then the pregnancy only added to that. She let out a breath she felt she had been holding in for a year and rubbed her belly, feeling happy to be able to do so so openly.

Beth left the house surrounded by friends.

'I didn't even know yous were, like, a thing.' Tara said to her as they headed down the steps.

Beth shrugged.

'Hey, Daryl,' Denise said – she had not been in the meeting, but had been waiting outside. Beth looked at her, then back over her shoulder at Daryl.

Daryl stopped at the bottom of the stairs beside both Beth and Tara. He looked expectantly at Denise, who was standing next to Rosita, whose face was as indifferent as ever.

'Okay.' Denise said, holding out a map. 'After I got out of GC I just drove. I remember seeing it right when I realized I had no idea where I was going - Edison's Apothecary and Boutique. It's just this little gift shop in a strip mall, but if it's really an apothecary, they had drugs.'

Daryl looked at her, mulling it over.

'How do you know they still got 'em?' He asked.

'It isn't that far.' Denise said. 'I just wanna check. And you and Rosita aren't out scavenging or pulling shifts.'

'We'll go.' Daryl nodded.

'I wanted to check.' Denise said, with emphasis on the I. She turned to look at Rosita. 'I just wanted to help.'

'How much time you spend out there?' Daryl asked her.

Denise sighed.

'None.' She said.

'Forget it.' Daryl said instantly.

'I can ID the meds.' Denise insisted. 'I know how to use a machete now. I've seen roamers up close. I'm ready.'

Daryl looked to Rosita.

'You good with this?' He asked.

'No!' Rosita snapped.

'I'll go alone, if I have to.' Denise said.

'You'll die alone.' Daryl said.

'I'm asking you to make sure I don't.' Denise replied, looking earnestly at him.

'I'm not babysitting her by myself.' Rosita said, eyeing Daryl.

Daryl sighed.

'I can come.' Beth said. 'I can help.'

'No fucking way.' Daryl said. 'I'm not looking after the both of ya.'

Beth folded her arms across her chest, resting them on her bump.

'You just told the room you're six months pregnant.' Rosita said, raising one slender eyebrow. 'There's no way I'm going out there with a pregnant chick and one who's never seen a walker up close.'

Beth glared at her.

'It's not far.' Denise said.

'I can help ID meds, too.' Beth said, smiling.

Daryl looked to Rosita, who rolled her eyes.

'You are so whipped.' She said. 'You're sitting in the back. I don't care how pregnant you are. You're in the back.'

Beth grinned; that was fine.

They headed over to the cars, and Daryl gestured to one of the larger trucks with back seats, opening the back door for Beth; she climbed up beside Denise while Rosita and Daryl took the front.

The gates opened for them and they headed off, hitting the road and kicking up dust. Beth laid her hands on her belly and sat back.

The journey to the place Denise knew of wasn't far at all, but just past half way they hit a snag in the form of a tree in the road.

Rosita looked at Daryl, their faces grave.

'Stay here.' Daryl said, as he and Rosita climbed out.

Beth and Denise stayed quiet, watching as the two of them headed towards the tree.

'Does it bother you?' Denise asked; Beth tilted her head at her. 'The way he acts like you're not strong. I mean, they treat me like it, but I'm not strong. I've got no experience. But you – you have. You are strong.'

Beth raised her eyebrows at the woman's sincere face beside her.

'He knows I'm strong.' Beth said, and as she said it, she realised she believed it. 'But he worries.'

'Because of the baby?' Denise asked, her eyes glancing down to Beth's stomach. 'I heard Rosita say.'

'Oh, yeah.' Beth nodded, remembering Denise hadn't been in the meeting. 'Yeah. I guess.'

Rosita returned to the car.

'Come on. It's clear.' She said.

Beth climbed out and headed to Daryl.

'Tree rotted out. It wasn't people.' He said.

Beth nodded.

'Come on. We'll walk.' Rosita said.

Daryl looked at Beth, but didn't say anything, for which Beth was glad. She was pregnant, not sick, and as Michonne had noted – her bump was small.

They walked along the road, as Daryl had insisted on. It took longer than if they had cut through the woods, but Daryl had insisted, and Denise had followed him, and Beth was not one to argue with Daryl. Usually.

Edison's glass front was inches thick with dust, and covered in hand prints. Daryl leant his ear to the door for a moment, listening, then nodded.

'Alright.' He said, getting a crowbar out from the bag he had slung on his back. With some effort, he broke the doors open.

The inside was as dusty as the out, but it was one of the most presentable Beth had seen. Dust and debris covered every single surface, but nothing had been smashed or destroyed. Perhaps the word apothecary was lost on the majority of people.

Beth wandered around, casting her eyes over the glass containers full of bits and bobs – keychains and sunglasses and necklaces.

Daryl headed to the back, to a shutter that said 'pharmacy' above it. He got out his crowbar again and set to work prying it open.

Once he had opened it, he climbed up onto the counter.

'Do you want to put them on the counter and I can tell you which –' Denise said, but Daryl just shook his head and Rosita climbed up after him.

'We'll just take them all.' He said.

Denise nodded, but Beth thought she looked a little put out; honestly, she got it. She could remember those early days only too well, when she had barely been allowed to join any outings, and still always kept to the side, not quite trusted. But she had proven her worth, and Daryl had even taught her his own tricks of the trade – she was sure Denise could learn, too, with time.

Beth wandered around the store front a bit more whilst they worked, listening as Daryl and Rosita sifted through the pharmacy at the back.

A crash made Beth jump, and she spun around to see Denise crash into a pile of boxes.

'What the hell is going on?' Rosita snapped, appearing at the opening in the wall.

Denise shook her head as she puled herself up, brushing down the front of her shirt, her face pale.

Beth frowned, heading over to her.

'No – don't.' Denise said.

'What's the matter?' Beth asked quietly, her eyes wandering past Denise to a small room beyond. The dust across the floor suggested Denise had been exploring.

Beth looked at Denise's flushed face, and walked past her.

'Beth, really – don't.'

Beth ignored her and headed quietly in the way Denise had come from; it was a small side room, full of storage boxes. Beth instantly spotted the walker, laying on the floor, trying to move itself towards her. There was nothing left to it but sinew and bone, but its mouth was still opening and closing as it tried to move; her eyes moved down to the plaster cast on its lower leg. She sighed, a wave of pity washing over her. Whoever this was, they had died here, alone and unable to escape. The walker was lying against a carry cot; it was covered in thick dust, but Beth could make out the pink beneath the dirt. Her eyes moved to the wall, to the word 'hush' written over and over in what looked like pink crayon. She swallowed, moving on. She saw a sink; it was full of a dark liquid that Beth wasn't sure she wanted to place, with a single baby show floating atop. Her stomach dropped.

She turned, leaving what was left of the crippled walker, and headed back to Denise, who was looking at her.

Beth nodded; she shouldn't have gone.

'You want to wait outside?' Denise asked her.

Beth let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

'Sure.' She said.

Rosita and Daryl met them back out in the sun a little while later, their bags laden with drugs.

'Come on,' Daryl said.

Beth linked her arm in with Denise's, who did not object, and together they followed after Daryl and Rosita.

As they headed back, they took the shorter route, but as they walked, they came across a smoking car.

Daryl and Rosita went ahead to check it out.

'This is fresh.' Daryl said, crouching down.

'Look at this.' Rosita said, picking up a spear.

Daryl nodded.

'That's from the Hill Top.' Daryl said.

A moan drew their attention, and Daryl stood back up; the man in the front seat was still alive, clutching at his chest.

'What happened here?' Daryl growled at him through the open window.

The man groaned again, his eyes fluttering.

'This spear.' Rosita said. 'This is from the Hill Top.'

The man grinned, the gesture clearly causing him great pain.

'Hill Top,' he groaned, blood spilling over his bottom lip. 'Those – bastards. We know – we know they called – you.'

Daryl and Rosita exchanged a look.

'Who are you?' Daryl spat again.

'I –' The man coughed, groaning in pain. 'I am Negan.'

Then he stilled, and died.

Beth slowly walked up to Daryl and linked her arm through with his.

'Those men were saviours.' Rosita said.

'We didn't end it.' Daryl said.

'No.' Rosita looked at Daryl again, her face serious, her dark eyes wary. 'I think we started something.'

Beth tightened her arm around Daryl, her blood running cold.