It had been four days since they had hid in tree from the massive herd of walkers but Daryl and Beth were still wary of running into it again. They kept a careful watch for signs of it nearby but had seen none. The two of them had holed up in a hunting cabin for two nights while Beth rested her ankle, which was feeling better for it, but they had been forced to move on when a group of walkers found their hideout. Since then they had been back on the road, camping out and eating squirrels.

Today they had set out to join up with a main road hoping to find a small town they could raid for supplies, which were running low. They had passed a few quiet farmhouses, which Beth made a point of avoiding and Daryl never pushed for, so it had been quiet morning.

After a few hours on the road, the sun was high in the sky and it was fast turning into a sweltering day. There was little shelter from the burning heat on the road. After nothing but putting one foot in front of the other all morning, Beth was hot and uncomfortable. She could feel her top sticking to her back and her mouth felt dry and furry. She was frustrated by their lack of direction. There was no plan, ever since they had left the prison they had moved aimlessly from one place to the next with no real idea of where they were heading.

Daryl had become increasingly quiet and withdrawn over the past few days. Beth couldn't work out why and it frustrated her further. They had been doing so well since the moonshine house and now it felt like they were going backwards. Normally she would try to be considerate, try to understand what was going on, but today she just wanted to snap at him. But she knew that would only make him angry and surly with her. So she fumed on in silence, berating him in the privacy of her own head.

Eventually though, the heat and monotony of walking became too much for Beth. She marched over to a tree on the side of the road, threw her backpack to the ground and sat down in a huff. She pulled her water bottle from her bag only to realize that there was barely a mouthful left in it.

"We need more water," Beth said, possibly more forcefully that she needed too.

Daryl had followed her over to the tree and watched her now. Perhaps sensing her less than agreeable mood, he didn't reply.

"Fine," she said angrily, "I'll find it myself."

She stood up and marched over to the roadside fence and clambered over it. A few hundred yards away a weathered-looking farmhouse stood with an overgrown yard surrounding it. She could hear Daryl following behind her, as she knew he would. Even when he was surly and withdrawn he still felt the need to look out for her.

Beth crossed the grassy field and reached the house sooner than she expected. The beautiful white farmhouse loomed up above her, suddenly looking achingly familiar. It had a large wrap around porch just like their farmhouse. There was a dusty looking rocking chair sitting in the corner. She could almost imagine Hershel sitting there in the evening, looking out over the yard with a book in his hands.

She pushed herself up the porch steps, trying to ignore the flood of memories it ignited. But when she reached the front door she couldn't make herself open it. She suddenly couldn't bare the thought of seeing a strange family's belongings strewn throughout the house and rummaging through them for supplies just felt wrong. All the fire gone out of her, she stood there on the doorstep suddenly unsure of what to do.

Daryl walked up the steps behind her and moved past to peer through the windows. The house was quiet. He turned to look at her, his eyes flickering over her face.

"Saw a well round the back," he said shortly, "You wanted water right?"

Beth bit her lip embarrassed, realizing that he saw right through her hesitation. "Right," she replied and turned to leave.

She backed down the stairs and raced around to the back of the house, feeling guilty that she hadn't been brave enough to go in. She saw the well a hundred yards or so away and hurried towards it, ignoring the waves of nostalgia that threatened to overwhelm her everywhere she looked.

As it turned out, the well was worthless, long since dried up. So Beth dropped her backpack on the round and sat down on the wooden rim around its edge, waiting for Daryl. She tried to ignore the tire swing that hung forlornly from a tree near the house; she didn't need the memories of a younger Hershel pushing her ten-year-old self to distress her further.

Daryl raided the house quickly and efficiently. When he caught up with her at the well he carried a fresh stack of canned fruit and beans, a box of matches, a packet of bandages and two candlesticks.

"Better get moving then," Daryl said, on realizing the well was a dead end.

"Yeah… Guess so," Beth replied hesitantly.

Suddenly she didn't want to leave. This farm, the house, even the dried up well were all so familiar, so normal. She gazed back at the house, remembering her family home, rearranging the picture in front of her so it looked all that more recognizable. Maggie would be out in the fields on her horse. Her mother would be in the garden, pottering around with her flowers and vegetables. Daddy and Shawn would be by the barn with the pigs or the cattle, making sure they were all healthy and well fed. The quiet ache she felt whenever she thought of her family grew until her chest was tight and heavy. She clenched her fists and fought against the prickling behind her eyes.

Daryl gave her a moment to pull herself together and then he came up besides her, holding her forgotten backpack out for her to take.

"C'mon Greene, ain't nothing but ghosts here."

Beth looked at Daryl and nodded. She took the bag from him with a small sigh. Swinging it over her shoulder, she turned and followed him across the fields to the road. As she walked, Beth considered what he'd said. She had told Daryl that he had to let his old life go and now she realized that she needed to do the same. Her family was either dead or gone. The possibility that she would find Maggie again was slim to none. She needed to let them go or it would eat her up inside. It was just Beth and Daryl now.