Daryl pressed his back against the old wall of the guard tower, holding back his breath, while he could hear Beth getting outside, closing the heavy door behind herself and then her boots getting through the high grass back to the prison.

He would pay to see his brother's expression right now, just the thought about it made Daryl smirk to himself. He had also never thought himself, that Beth would ever talk to someone like the way she had spoken to his brother. She was really a very strong girl.

Because Daryl had to wait a few more minutes, till he can follow Beth inside, he sat down on the ground. Somehow relaxed, even when he didn't know from where this feeling came from, he leaned his back against the wall of the guard tower and lightened up a cigarette between his lips.

While Daryl was watching the surroundings, the silent prison, the wind moving through the high grass, he got it that this was really his home. That he could stay here if he wanted, he just had to say it out loud and he could live here for the rest of his life, together with his family and friends. Maybe also with Merle, but the most important thing was that he could spend the rest of his life next to Beth.

When Daryl's eyes began to get heavy and he started to feel damn tired, he knew it was time to go to bed. Even Merle had already pulled out the lights and his anger had probably already let him fall asleep, with Beth's words still running trough his head. Daryl knew Merle could never stand it, when a woman was telling him what he had to do and what not.

Happy, almost relieved, he went back to the prison and he almost stopped, when he went by Beth's cell. But he knew she was probably still awake and so he couldn't watch her sleeping like he wanted so bad. He didn't want to bother her and he will get another chance to watch her sleeping anyway, because he sure as hell won't leave this place here.

Daryl had slept that night better than he had expected. Almost joyful he sprang out of bed even before the sun had even risen. He felt good, even with the knowing about what will come in the next hours, but right now he was living in the moment and was just happy with going into the direction Beth Greene's cell.

Daryl knew she was already up, Judith had probably made sure about that and a big smile got on his lips, when he saw the two girls sitting on top of Beth's bed. Daryl wanted to see the two of them one more time, before he will leave with Merle together for the next hours.

"Good morning sun shines." Daryl whispered, while he leaned himself against the door frame of Beth's cell. Her private curtain was pulled away, like she had expected him to come to her this morning. She also didn't react any surprised about his presence, even smiled before she looked up at him and wished him also a good morning.
Slowly Daryl repelled himself from the door frame and got over to where Beth was sitting with Judith in her arms. He let himself sink down next to her, watching the baby girl drinking urgently her formula for breakfast. "Rick is already outside in the gardens. Carl helps him, but I don't think he likes it so much to stand up that early every morning."

Beth told Daryl to break the silence, while they were both watching peacefully little Judith drinking in her arms. And then he couldn't hold back the need any more to stroke with his fingertips carefully over the baby girl's soft, fine hair. His well-meant behaviour caused Beth to look up into Daryl's eyes and he had just started to imagine that the two of them were getting unknowing closer to each other faces, to close the distance between their lips to cover them after such a long time again, when Judith was obviously finished with her breakfast and began to whine.

The baby got Beth's whole attention again, when she stopped the connection between the two of them and gave her look back to the baby. With a smile on her lips, Beth stood up to place the now empty bottle on top of her table in the corner and positioned Judith so she could burp by the cloth by her shoulder.

While she was stroking and also tapping the baby girl's little back, she walked around the room, feeling Daryl's eyes on her. They both didn't say one word, till Beth began to hum one of her favourite songs and he just listened. The morning sun was shining trough the window and caused Beth to look like the God damn angel she was for Daryl.

He just wanted to tell her so, when they could both hear Judith burp strong. Quickly Beth whipped it all away from the little girls mouth, only to notice that also her shirt had got stained. "Can you take her for a moment, so I can get into a clean shirt?" Beth asked and even when she was burped all over her left shoulder, she didn't sound annoyed one bit.

"Sure." Daryl answered, while he already stood up and stretched his arms out for Judith. Carefully Beth handled the baby over into Daryl's safe arms and a bright smile got on his lips instantly. "Come here little bug." He said, while his heart warmed up to see the little girl's cute face from so close.

"It's even a long time ago, since I have held you the last time." Daryl went on, while he tried to get her as comfortable as possible in his arms. "You have got much heavier sweetheart. Doesn't feel like I'm holding a little doll in my arms any more. You must have eaten much the last time." He whispered down to her, while he eyed the baby girl's little nose, big, nosy eyes and the way her mouth angles twitched, while he was talking to her.

"She is really a bravely eater. Sometimes I almost can't catch up with her. She has just became a bottle, when she already starts to cry again. Little Judy is really already a survivor." Beth said, after she had closed her private curtain and she just wanted to pull the dirty shirt over her head to get into a clean one.

Even when Daryl had already seen her so often with just her bra on, hell he had also already seen her so often with nothing on, he still turned around to give her some privacy. They weren't intimate since such a long time and he didn't want Beth to feel uncomfortable or anything like that, while she stands with a half naked upper body in front of him.

With Judith still in his arms, Daryl got over to the small window to look outside the peacefully area. Everything was so silent in this early hour of the day, the sun tried to rise completely, the birds started to sing their song in the tree tops and Daryl just began to realise what he had almost lost.

When the little girl in his arms began to move, he gave his whole attention back to her and watched again her tiny, sweet face. Lovingly Daryl stroked with the back of his index finger over her warm, rosy cheek and finally he laid his finger into her tiny palm. Instantly the baby pressed her fist around his finger and didn't let go again.
He was still smiling happily down at little Judith, when it suddenly hit him like a slap in the face. Just the memory about it got him feel all guilty and stupid, even his cheeks blushed so damn ashamed he was about his behaviour from a few days ago.

Sincerely, from the bottom of his heart, Daryl whispered down at the cute baby, who seemed to listen to him closely "I'm so damn sorry for screaming at you and scarring you little bug. I promise, it won't happen again." After eyeing the baby for some more moments, like Daryl was waiting for a sign of forgiving from her, he finally looked up at Beth again.

She had already changed into another shirt and was looking at him with those big, beautiful eyes of hers. Compassion was written in her face, after what she had heard him say. "I'm sorry." Daryl repeated once more, but this time it wasn't for Judith. It was for Beth. He had also screamed at her and had frightened her that day, he was also damn sorry about hurting her.

These two right here were one of the most important people in his life and he had both hurt them at the same time that day. Something like that could only manage a Dixon, Daryl had to admit. Only they could be that stupid.

Beth thanked him with a truthfully smile, while she kept on watching him. For some moments Daryl smiled back at her, before he lowered his head and also gave Judith his best please-forgive-me-smile. The little girl replied his smile instantly and when Daryl saw her teeth less smile, he said more to himself than to the other two listeners "How could I even be that stupid to just think about.." Before he said the last words, he looked up again and searched for Beth's eyes, before he went on "..leaving you."

Overwhelmed she was looking with a half opened mouth at him. Daryl meant both of them, her and Judith. How could he really think about that? Beth's eyes suddenly filled with tears, after she had blinked, but she tried to hold them back with smiling thankfully into Daryl's direction.

Before one of them could say anything more, noises were hear able on the corridors and Daryl knew it was time for him to leave Beth's cell, before rumours will make their ways. "I should better go now." He said, while he got already over to where Beth was standing to give little Judith back into her arms.

While he was doing so, he thought about giving Beth a small kiss on top of her head, but finally he decided against it. It wasn't the right time now after everything and it still wasn't over. Before Daryl leaved Beth's cell with a good feeling inside his belly, because he had seen the two of them one more time, he stroked over the baby girl's soft hair and told them both to stay safe. Just their presence got him somehow stronger, like he was able to manage whaterever will come, even the coming conversation with his brother, about Daryl was so worried about. But exactly this setting he needed right now to feel better.

But his almost positive mood changed, when he saw Merle leaning next to the car, ready to leave this place. He didn't even want to get himself breakfast any more, but even when Merle didn't want to get himself one, Daryl told his older brother that he sure as hell won't leave without something to eat before.

Daryl watched Merle from the corner of his eyes, how he almost gulped his breakfast, like he was in a getaway. Maybe that really was kind of getaway for his brother, Daryl thought, but himself just wanted to drive away, so he could tell him that he won't leave this place and he couldn't change his mind any more.

Daryl could also feel Beth's eyes already the whole time on him, like she was trying to take him in, because she obviously still had the fear, that maybe she won't ever see him again in her life. But he will come back, like he had promised her.

After a half eternity, they were finally finished with breakfast, like Merle said and how damn long it took for Daryl to empty his water glass, they finally headed down to their car. They had almost reached their destination, when the most beautiful voice on earth found its way to Daryl's ears.

"Daryl. Wait." Beth said, while she came closer to him. "Hey girl. Everything alright?" Daryl wanted to secure himself, before he will leave her, even just for a few hours. "I hope so." Beth answered unsure, he already knew what she wanted to say with that. Maybe this morning he had seemed more secure, when he was by her cell and Daryl could feel it himself, that he wasn't that convincingly any more.

Of course, he still didn't want to leave this place, leave Beth behind, but he still had to tell his brother so and that caused him to get damn nervous and also worried. Daryl didn't want Beth to worry about him. She had already done everything she could, now it was his task.

Trying to calm her down, Daryl nodded with a smile on his lips. "Yeah, everything alright girl. Don't worry." A small smile also got in her lips, before it already disappeared so quickly again. "Stay safe Mr. Dixon." Beth said with a worried voice and Daryl knew that best she wanted to hug him and even place a lovingly kiss on his cheek, like she used to do every time he left for a run, but right now she didn't. Because Merle was watching them with annoyed eyes.

"You too girl. See you tonight." Daryl finally said, before he got over to his brother and let Beth standing behind with glassy eyes and a damn worried expression. And best he also wanted to go over to her. Take her in his arms, holding her close, maybe even press a kiss on top of her head, telling her that he won't ever leave her. But he also knew that he couldn't do that, at least not right now in front of his brother.

With a heavy heart Daryl finally got into the car, Beth even opened the gates for them and it broke Daryl's heart into a million pieces, when he looked into the rear view mirror and saw Beth standing there alone, with her hands in front of her chest, hugging herself, still that worried expression in her face, getting tinier and tinier, while he drove away. Away from her, making the distance between the two of them bigger and bigger with every second.

The two brothers were already driving about thirty minutes, no one had said even one word, but Daryl knew that Merle was mad. Mad about himself, Daryl, Beth and all the people inside the prison. He just wanted to drive away as fast as possible, but Daryl let his time, because he still didn't know how to start the conversation, that he won't come with him.

But Daryl didn't have to start it, because suddenly Merle said "So you aren't coming with me, right?" Trying not to show his real feelings, Daryl just kept on driving and watched closely the street for any danger.

After one whole minute he finally answered his brother truthfully "Yeah." An unbelievable, condescending laugh left Merle's lips, before he said amused "So blondie has really twisted your head, right little brother?"

Instantly Daryl stopped the car and Merle even looked surprised over to his younger brother about his sudden action, when Daryl already reproved him "Her name is Beth, not blondie. When will you ever get that man? And it's not about her." That was one of the biggest lies Daryl had ever told his brother, probably even the biggest.

"But you have spoken with her about it. And she has talked you into it right?" Merle didn't give up with that topic. "Beth hasn't talked me into anything." At least not about that, Daryl thought to himself, before he went on "It's my own decision, she just helped me to figure it out. That's all. And I have talked with her about it, because you would have never listened to me. You just think about yourself, even when we were still kids."

"Why do you start with this now? It's a half lifetime ago. And I have saved your life more than once man and that's the thank I get for all the things I have done for you?" Merle asked already damn angry, but Daryl also couldn't hold it back any more, when he answered "Yeah, thank you for let me get drunk, give me the drugs and bring me into fights. To leave home and don't take me with you. Thank you for telling me, that I'm useless and nothing without you."

His words caused Merle to think and he didn't know what he should answer to the truth. So Daryl went on, with a more calming voice this time. "But that was a half lifetime ago, like you have said, and now we are here." Trying to let his older brother know, that Daryl meant it all serious, that he wanted to forget the past and make a restart, he laid almost begging his hand on top of Merle's shoulder and said "I just want my brother back."

With widened eyes and a shocked body language, Merle was staring at his brother like he was crazy, before he opened the car, sprang out and screamed "Piss off man. They have given you a brain wash. I don't need you like that anyway now."

After Merle had sprung out of the car and headed damn angry into the woods, Daryl turned the car and drove faster as before into the direction of his home, where Beth was waiting for him. He was so damn mad and disappointed about his brother, even when he asked himself why he was still feeling that way, after Merle had already disappointed him so often in his life.

He was just a few miles away from the prison, when Daryl's foot suddenly hit the brake and the car stopped instantly. He let his anger out with beating his fist into the steering wheel and yelled "Damn it!", before he turned the car once more.