Daryl woke up next day bathed in sweat, a wild pulsing heart and the feeling of being damn ill. While he tried to catch his breath, the scenes from his nightmare came back in front of his inner eyes.

They were back at the farm and it was the day, when Shane had yelled at them all to kill the hidden walkers inside the barn. In the next moment they were already standing in front of it. With loaded weapons they were waiting for the walkers to come out.

Suddenly Daryl was already shooting one into the forehead. It was a teenager boy with dark blond hair and a scar on his left cheek. The clothes he was wearing, almost looked like a pyjama, like the boy had got bitten, while he was asleep. Daryl had shot him directly into the brain, between his eyes and the body fell lifeless to the ground.

Before Daryl could even really process what had just happened, another scene from his nightmare suddenly hit him. He just had aimed his gun at a woman with blond, long hair, held together in a messy braid. The woman loomed closer to him, her blue eyes fixed at his, like Daryl had already seen her in his life before. Even when her expression was empty, her eyes were spellbound to his, she definitelly wanted him as her next victim.

All of sudden Daryl got unexpected fear and a cold shiver ran down his back, while he kept on looking at that walker and it was looking directly back at him with these lifeless eyes. And without thinking even one more second about it, Daryl shot the walker. Because he was so nervous and tensed, he shot her in the middle of the face instead of the forehead, but still the walker fell to the ground.

The second he could hear the cries and whimpers from the other, from Beth, he left the scene and went back to his own camp. He could just never handle sadness, even when it was just a dream. A dream, which was the reality one past day.

Daryl didn't know why he was dreaming about this day. It was such a long time ago and it never really bothered him, what had happened there. It had to be done, they had to kill the walkers. But still, months later he was sitting on top of his prison bed and felt damn ill, about what he had done such a long time ago.

Quickly he stood up and went downstairs to the showers. It was still dark, when he let the cold water ran down his body, let him make feel a little better. After he had got himself dressed again and drank some fresh water, he just wanted to get back to his cell to rest some more after this horrible nightmare, when he passed by Beth's cell and her private curtain was already opened.

"Good morning Mr. Dixon." She said softly, a sweet smile already in this early morning hour on her lips. Lovingly she was cradling little Judith in her arms, while going around her room. "Morning girls. Has little ass kicker woke you up or why are the two of you already up so early?" Daryl asked, while he got closer to the two of them and stroked carefully through the baby's soft hair. Just seeing Beth made Daryl feel better again.

"Yeah, she is definitely a early riser. But it's okay, I like to see the sunset." Beth said and Daryl just wanted to response her smile, when his eyes caught something on the desk behind her.

It was a small, framed photo and Daryl could remember, that Beth had looked at this photo for hours, while they were still on the road. It was the Greene's family picture with every member on it. Behind in the left was Hershel, he had this proud smile like always and his right hand was laying on top Maggie's shoulder, she was standing in front of her stepfather.

Maggie's hair were even shorter than as when the group had entered the farm so long ago. Her left arm she had laid over her little sister's shoulder, digging her closer to her side. Beth's hair were also shorter in the picture than they were right now, but her shining, baby blue eyes and her bright, sweet smile were already then so beautiful.

The second Daryl's eyes followed the owner of the hand, which Beth was holding in the pic, his breathing stopped abruptly. The teenager boy with the scar on his cheek from his dream was standing right next to Beth. His blond hair way darker than hers. It was Beth's brother. Daryl had shot her brother.

But Daryl's heart stopped completely to beat, when he saw the woman standing next to Hershel's side. Only then everything made sense, everything was clear. Because of that, Daryl was so spellbound to the blue eyes from the walker in his dream. It was Beth's mother. She had the same eyes like her and in his dream it was like he was killing someone familiar, someone he knew. It was like he was killing Beth.

Daryl had killed Beth's beloved brother and mother. He was the murder of them. He knew, he had already seen them before in his life, not in person, but yesterday when he had tried to soothe Judith and he was looking around Beth's room. His eyes had caught this picture, but he just hadn't got it then. And the worst of all was, that the death of her mother and brother, the people he had killed with his own hands, almost caused Beth's own death, when she had tried to kill herself.

"Daryl? Are you okay?" Beth's voice finally got him back to the reality, when she tried to get his attention. Obviously he was frozen, shocked and overwhelmed about what he had just found out. What he had done months ago. The sweet girl in front of him trusted Daryl and he had killed half of her family.

"Beth." He tried to begin, he needed to tell her, she had the right to know it. Even when he didn't know how to start, but he had to. Worried Beth looked up at his probably damn pale face with her big, beautiful eyes. She obviously cared about him, even trusted him and he had killed her mother and brother.

Daryl felt his hands shake and his troath was completely dry, when they got interrupted. All of sudden Beth was holding baby Judith tighter in her arms, like she wanted to protect her from something bad. Finally Daryl followed Beth's look and saw Rick standing in the door frame.

It was instinct, that made Daryl shove Beth with the baby in her arms behind his body to protect them. "Rick. How.. how are you?" Daryl finally asked the sheriff with a tensed and nervous voice. Rick was still looking ill and weak, but something in his expression had changed, he looked more like the Rick from before.

"I'm better. What about you? What about the other?" Rick finally said and Daryl was surprised how strong his voice sounded. "We are all alright." He simply answered and as a response he got a nod from his friend.

They were both just looking at each other, when Beth slowly stepped in front of Daryl and the sheriff's broken eyes looked at the little baby in her arms. It was heartbreaking, when Beth finally said with her soft words "Her name is Judith." But Rick didn't response anything, he just kept on staring clueless at the tiny bunch of life.

"Dad!" The whole floor was suddenly filled with Carl's voice, when he finally saw his father after days and crashed into his side. Trying to process everything, Rick was stroking absently through the boy's dark brown hair.

Finally Daryl could see in Rick's expression, that just then he got it that this was their reality now, that this was their life, they had to keep going. Even when it won't be easy, they all have to go on, make the best of it, even when Rick will still need much time for healing.

And Daryl got again the feeling, that he had done something right, something good, when his friend told him and Beth "Thank you so much for the things the two of you have done for my children. Thank you so much."


Since that day Rick had come back, everything got better, almost like their normal routine. Even when Rick was still traumatized about Lori's fast, unexpected death, he tried to handle it for Carl's and Judith's best, even when he still couldn't even look at the direction of the baby.

Judith was almost the whole day long by Beth. She was feeding her, took her for a walk, cleaned her, cradled the baby in her arms, when it was crying and Beth also took her to bed every night in her cell. Beth had told Daryl once, that she loved it to take the little baby girl to her into bed and watch her sleep, till she did fall asleep herself. The blond hadn't so much free time any more like before, which also meant, that Daryl and Beth couldn't meet so often and long any more.

But they tried to use every minute they got, when Carol, Andrea or Sasha were taking care of little Judith. Daryl didn't know where this feeling was coming from, but he thought, that Beth missed him and their time together as much as he did himself.

They were both just too busy to spend more time together, but whenever they had some freetime, didn't mater how exhausted the day was, they spent the less time together. Not for having sex, just for being together. Talking, listening, watching little Judith or just sitting silently next to each other and enjoy it not to be alone.

Summer was definitely already in country, because after Daryl had worked by the fences to make them more robust, he was bathed in sweat and felt damn thirsty. He had just gripped himself a bottle and let the cold water ran down his throat, when his eyes caught Beth sitting in the shadow in the grass with little Judith on her lab.

Of course, Daryl was every time damn happy to see Beth, but since he got to know, that he had killed her beloved mother and brother, he also got sad and guilty after the first happiness of seeing her was gone. Her sweet face and expecially her beautiful eyes always remembered him about what he had done.

He wanted to tell her, to let her know everything, because she had the right to know. Daryl really wanted to tell her, but every time he had found enough courage and the feeling of also having found the right words for it, they got interrupted somehow.

So Daryl still hadn't told Beth the truth, but even when he felt so bad about it, he needed her presence. Her good mood was always contagious and her bright, truthful smile got him goose bumps everywhere. Next to her he simply felt better, like he wasn't that useless redneck. Just accepted. And Daryl just had to admit, that he really liked it to have her close.

Because of all these reasons, he got into the direction of the two girls and a smile was playing on his lips, when Beth took Judith's little arm and waved at him. "What are you two sweethearts doing out here?" Daryl asked still with that smirk on his lips, when he was finally close enough.

"It's such a nice day, we didn't want to stay inside any more. Besides, I wanted to show little Judy the daisy." Beth answered with her sweet voice, while Daryl lowered himself next to them. Just when he carefully stroked with his fingers over Judith's rosy cheek, Daryl noticed how dark and dirty his skin was looking next to the baby's.

So fresh and young was this skin and hopefully it will never find out the things Daryl's skin had over the years. The skars on his back were only the peak of the mountain. Best he wanted to take little Judith into his arms. Daryl had closed the little girl inside his heart with the very first second.

"Do you want to take her?" Beth asked after some seconds of eyeing him, how he was looking at little Judith in her arms. "Nah, better not. I'm dirty and sweaty everywhere, you would have to bathe her after." Daryl told Beth, even when he had the urgently need to take the little baby in his arms and kiss the fine, light brown hair on top of her head, which he knew smelled so good.

The three of them got silent then, just enjoyed the nice weather and watched the wind blowing through the high, soft grass in front of them. Finally Beth picked up one of the daisy next to her and showed it to little Judith. While Beth was rotating the stalk between her thumb and index finger, so it almost looked like the flower was dancing, the baby was watching the flower with big eyes.

Seeing Beth like that warmed up Daryl's heart from the bottom to the very top. "You can handle very well with her." He finally told Beth, something he wanted to tell her since a long time. Dayl's words made her smile thankfully and her cheeks got that sweet rosy tone. "Thank you Daryl. I always wanted a child, even when I was still one my own. I love them since I can think." Beth smiled dreamily, while she thought about that time.

"It was always my biggest dream. Always wanted to have a Christmas baby. To be born on Christmas morning. I know, in a world like this it sounds stupid and so far away. Especially after Lori." Beth's soft smile and dreamily eyes quickly got away, just with that thought.

Eying her from the corner of his eyes, Daryl suddenly thought about something, something really stupid. He was shocked himself, how he even came up with that idea, but he had the need to make her biggest wish come true. It was really impossible, but maybe if Beth won't ever find someone, like not every young man on this world wouldn't like to have Beth for his wife, he would make her a baby.

But how would they tell Hershel and Maggie about that? That he, the dirty, old redneck would get their sweet, little Beth pregnant, so her biggest wish could become true. Daryl just wanted to help her, but they wouldn't understand it. He had never ever thought about being a father, but for Beth and her happiness he would do so much.

To get away from this far-fetched thought Daryl shook unbelieveable his head and his cheeks began to blush, hoping that Beth wasn't able to read his stupid thoughts. Pensive they were looking at the sourandings, before Beth's sweet voice filled the warm summer air again "I have also always wanted to become a kindergarden teacher. Just another dream, which will never become true."

Daryl hated it to see Beth so sad, so he answered truthfully "You would have made a great job sweetheart. You are already doing one right now, with taking care of little bug." Daryl told Beth softly, while they were looking long into each other eyes. "What was your dream job?" Beth suddenly asked out of no where and the second the last word had left her lips, she realised, what she had just asked him.

"I'm sorry Daryl. I didn't want to.. I know you don't want to talk about.. Just forget it." Beth stammered embarrassed, before she tried to focus on the baby again. Daryl kept on watching her for a few more seconds and till now he didn't know what had finally given him the courage, when he answered "I have never had a dream job. Just wanted to earn my own money as soon as possible, so I can leave home. Beside I hadn't any talents, weren't good at anything, but since I was little I have watched my.." Just thinking about this person made Daryl uncomfortable.

Before he went on, he cleared absently his troath. "..my father and also Merle, when they did repair their bikes. I have copied them, when I was finally allowed to help them, so that was the only thing I was more or less good in it. So I became a mechanic, since I was fifteen."

With a surprised expression Beth eyed Daryl, overwhelmed about that he talked about his past and even that much. He just always hated it to talk about himself, especially about his dark past, but somehow it felt so different to talk with Beth about it. Daryl felt so secure, understood and not one time uncomfortable, like it was the most normal thing in the world and this was definitely never normal in his life before.

Like the sweet girl she was, Beth placed her soft hand lovingly on Daryl's lower arm, when she told him "But you are so much more than just a mechanic Daryl. Without you we would all still sit on the road, if you wouldn't have repaired our cars. You are a protector, you risk your life every time you go on a run, when you go hunting to bring us food. You risk your life every day for us. You are the first one who is up in the morning and the last one who goes to bed, you are more than just a mechanic Daryl. And I haven't even mentioned the things you are doing for me."

They both began to smirk wide then and even when it was hard for Daryl to admit, he somehow knew, that Beth was right. "Maybe you have to keep remind me about that sometimes girl."

"If you let me, I will remind you everyday Mr. Dixon." Beth answered him softly, before they smiled bright at each other. When they kept on looking into each other eyes for moments, Daryl got again the need to lean down and kiss her so tender looking lips. He didn't even know why he wanted to do that, but he was so attracted to Beth. So understood and accepted he felt in this moment, like never before in his life and this made things to him.

Maybe Daryl would have really done it, when they wouldn't have heard the foot steps coming closer to where they were sitting in the meadow. They both were surprised, when they saw Rick coming closer into their direction, his look at the baby on Beth's lab. Even when Daryl knew, that Rick had himself under control now and he won't freak out again, he still watched the sheriff with tensed muscles.

But nothing bad happened, in contrast Rick even lowered himself next to Beth, while he kept on watching the baby with the daisy in its tiny hand. Daryl and Beth let Rick watch his daughter for a few minutes, till the blond said softly "She has Lori's eyes."

Rick just nodded then, while he kept on looking at Judith with a mixture of sadness and love, his expression was just heartbreaking. "Do you want to hold her?" Beth offered him and first Rick just shook unsure his head, before she added "She is so light, like you don't even have anything on your lab. And she is also very well-behaved."

Without asking one more time, Beth just placed the baby from her lab onto the sheriff's and maybe it was just instinct, that made Rick pull little Judith closer to his chest. Tears were already glistening in his eyes, when he sanked his head down to the baby's head and kissed it light.

With a happy and also relieved smile Beth was watching Rick and Judith for a few more seconds, before she gripped for Daryl's hand and made the two of them standing up and leaving their friend with his little daughter alone for a few minutes.

Daryl didn't know what was the most beautiful thing. Rick finally accepting his daughter and trying to heal and be there for her, so Judith also finally had a father or the fact that Beth was holding Daryl's hand, till they were around the corner and even when everyone could see them, she didn't let go. Instead, Beth was smiling up at Daryl and made his heart jump with that.