I'm so sorry for taking so long to update this story. I've had a hard last few years my depression became to much and suicide became an option. I've had to spend the last two years recovering and learning to be happy. Along with my depression I was also struggling through university and writing wasn't a priority, I've also outgrown this story. I began writing this when I was 14 I'm now 20 and the way I write has changed, my experiences have grown and the way I perceive the development of relationships has definitely changed. This will be the last chapter of the River of the Dead and I know that you've all waited so long and that this will likely not be the way you envisioned how I'd end the story. I wanted to thank each and every one of you for reading and following this story. THANK YOU XX

Chapter 28

Ricks POV

He paced in front of Beth for a moment trying to find the words that could interpret the utter fury he was feeling.

"What were you thinking? Beth please enlighten me because I am this close," he emphasised his words with a gesture, "to having you leave this house and making arrangements with Deanna to find you another place, far from Daryl and Artemis!" Rick said, his words deadly quiet and completely truthful. He was running out of ideas on how to deal with her growing obsession.

"You're angry at me when there's some random woman in there, you think I was being inappropriate, she's the slut with her legs around his waist. I did nothing wrong," Beth snapped.

Rick took a deep breath, trying to restrain his urge to slap the damn girl. It was easy to forget how young she really was, the world they were in changed people, matured them to a point where their youth and innocence was torn from them. He had watched as both Carl and Beth had become cold and their innocence disappear in a wisp of smoke.

Beth's harsh words rang in his ears, "that slut as you so eloquently put it, is his wife. Remember her? Her name's Joelle and she's also my sister!" Rick's voice was a deadly whisper, he was done playing nice, it was time for Beth to grow up properly.

"She's dead! Merle told us so!" Beth growled back not understanding how close Rick was to losing his temper.

"Do you really think Daryl is the kind of person to do that! He wouldn't do it if he was still grieving over his wife, which is who that woman is!" Rick snarled at Beth.

Beth took a step back, as if realising for the first time that Rick Grimes, the leader of their group, was furious at her. She looked at him for a moment before spitting out at Rick "fine, I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

"No, it won't, you stay away from Joelle, Artemis and especially Daryl! If you don't, well, you won't be around them much longer," with those harsh words Rick left Beth where she was.

Joelle POV

After the interruption, there wasn't much point continuing, especially seeing as Joelle was still unable to go the full way. That and she was desperate to see her baby, her darling girl. They dried each other off slowly and lovingly before making their way to where Joelle's room was. Joelle didn't bother putting on clothes as the moment she saw her daughter she scooped her up, rousing the baby from her nap. Artemis grumbled at the disruption before opening her eyes. The noises of discontent immediately ceased and a large toothless smile lit the infants face. Joelle smiled back her eye filling with fast approaching tears.

Artemis made no protest as Joelle clutched her to her bare chest. Daryl joined the fray and soon all three off the were laying on the bed embracing. For so long she had felt the aching emptiness of being alone, she had said Joelle wasn't coming back without a miracle. She had been given one, her family, her life was back.

Sooner than she'd like Joelle got up of the bed and dressed, she watched as Daryl cuddled Artemis looking relaxed and happy.

"Come on D let's go see the others, it's about time I saw that big brother of mine," she said, smiling softly at her husband.

Together Joelle and Daryl holding Artemis walked down the stairs appearing together as a family, something that they had been longing for. The whole group was sitting in the lounge room talking. Rick was the first to notice their appearance, perhaps because he had been waiting for this exact moment for near on two hours.

"Joelle!" He cried out. Everyone looked up at the name, some because it was familiar, others because it wasn't.

Joelle ran into her brother's arms, the siblings embracing with sobs of happiness. Soon Joelle was passed around from arms to arms once she reached Roxie she once again broke down this time in sobs of anguish. She continuously blubbered out apologies and Roxie, though had accepted Merle's story and Lucas' death had held some hope of his return, Joelle's cries crushed any hope she had.

Daniel cried silently for his father, tears flowing freely, and then for a moment everyone was silent in honour of the fallen. They were silent for everyone they had lost, for every brave soul who had fallen in this deadly word where one killed the dead and feared the living.

Rick then introduced her to the new members of the group Abraham, Tara, Eugene, Rosita and Morgan. Joelle nodded to each one but said nothing. Her eyes searched the room until they settled on one particular blonde, Daryl had told her about the young girls advances not only on him, but Artemis and she was seething.

She stalked over to Beth took her arm in a vice like grip and pulled her outside. Rick and Daryl shared a glance and Daryl nodded answering Rick's unspoken question. She knows.

Once outside Joelle roughly let go of Beth, who at this point looked terrified. The young girl then huffed and snarled, "You can't do this, Maggie won't let you."

"This has nothing to do with her, besides I have more weight in the group than she does. This is about you thinking you have the right to claim what it mine. Daryl is mine, Artemis is mine and you had no right doing what you did."

"Well it's not like you were there to stop me! He wanted me back and you're just jealous that I am younger, and prettier than you, especially seeing as I have both my eyes!" the girl snarled.

Joelle laughed heartily, "Daryl doesn't want a child sweetheart, he wants a woman and you most definitely are not a woman. Run a long now but remember what I said. I will kill you if you go anywhere near my family again."

After she was back inside Joelle looked at Daryl and he took the hint and walked upstairs whilst carrying Artemis.

They both stripped down and slipped into bed, Joelle holding Artemis tightly to her chest. Daryl tightly wrapped his arms around them both and held on to them as if they were his lifeline. Joelle smiled as she relaxed into his warm embrace.

She had found them, or rather they had found her. She didn't care either way her child and husband were safely back in her arms and that was enough.

They had walls, they had homes and they had each other. They were strong and together could accomplish anything.

They had survived, she had survived. This was only the beginning of the rest of their lives. Together.

THE END