~Author's Note: I want to thank all of you who have gone on this tragic journey with me. This story was really for me, to help me find closure after the tragic MSF, to try to give Beth and Daryl what I thought would be a fitting and heartfelt end if Beth had to die. This story was always meant to have only 10 chapters, but I decided to split Chapter 10 into two chapters, Chapter 10 and an Epilogue. If you are satisfied with the way Chapter 10 ends, maybe you should stop there because the Epilogue might be a little bit corny. It was just something I couldn't get out of my head though, so I needed to write it down. Again, thank you, and I hope you guys are planning to join me again when the new chapter of "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" comes out! Lots of love, and wishing everyone joy and happiness in the new year!~

Chapter 10: Save Sorrow for the Souls in Doubt

The rumble...the growling...it was like music to his ears. And the vibration...havin' a bike between his legs again made Daryl remember what living was supposed to feel like. The sun was warm on his bare arms. The whole world seemed too bright for his taste, but he wasn't complaining none. As far as he could see, the highway was clear and open, not a car...anything in sight, but he wasn't goin' as far as the eye could see. He was going somewhere specific...he just didn't know where...but he turned off onto Fairburn road. It was familiar...there was a memory there...

Home...That wasn't right, was it?

Rick said you had others on the highway, that big traffic snarl? Backtrack to Fairburn road. Two miles down is our farm. You'll see the mailbox.

The gravel road was bumpy, his bike throwing up a cloud of dust around him as he took it faster than he should've, but reckless abandon wasn't really feelin' that reckless anymore...like it didn't even matter...and he had somewhere to be. Daryl stopped, parked, grabbed his crossbow off his bike, not really knowing what was up ahead. It was so bright and light that he couldn't make out anything, but as he stepped forward, ready for whatever was gonna be thrown at him, either his eyes started to focus or the veil of light started to part like fog. He could see...her...he saw Beth. He was frozen...the picture of her too perfect to be real, sittin' on a set of steps in a little white cotton dress, pale hair spilling in loose waves over her shoulders. Her hands were in her lap, and she was looking down like she was just passing the time...waiting for something. But then Beth looked up, suddenly saw him...realized he was there. Standing up slowly, her hands came to cover her mouth, in what? Shock? Surprise? It hit Daryl too...all the memories...the cruel realities slamming him hard. It was all just a dream again...

But Beth was there...and she'd been gone for so very long. He stumbled back a step, then his crossbow crashed to the ground just a few seconds before he did. Daryl's hands were shaking, and he couldn't catch his breath for nothin'. Then she was in his lap, her arms tight around his neck, pressed so hard against him. He wrapped his arms around Beth knowing that even if he swore never to let go, this dream could break that promise in an instant, ripping him away from her and there was nothin' he could do about it.

"Beth, I'll love you for the rest of my life."

It came out urgent. Everything he wanted, needed to say...he had to say it now 'cause he might never get the chance. He could feel Beth nodding against his neck, accepting his love.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you..."

"Shh..." Beth pulled back, looking at him, brushing his hair outta his face and smiling.

Daryl caught her hand, was gonna kiss it, but stopped as the light caught the glint of metal, the wings wrapped around her finger. Closing his eyes...trying to stop himself but he couldn't, Daryl looked down at his hand...and it was there. His ring was finally there too. This dream...this dream was gonna be too devastating to recover from. Who was he kidding? He was never gonna recover anyway. He couldn't look up at Beth. He was too broken.

"Daryl, you don't have to protect me anymore. Your watch is over." Beth's sweet words were mixed with just a hint of sadness, but they soothed his sorry soul.

She leaned under his bowed head, nudging him, placing the most innocent kiss on his lips. It all felt so real...maybe he didn't want it to feel this real anymore. It was just too painful.

The gunshot startled him. Looking up, Daryl pulled Beth close again so he could shield her. But had she even heard? How could she not? It'd been so close. The brightness around them started to fade...it was fading to black. Daryl knew what was happening...the gunshot...it was waking him up to the horrible, cold world where he was forced to run, fight...survive, for what? Nothing. The dream was over...until it wasn't. The light faded, but only until the world around him became normal...he could see clearly. There was nothing tugging him away, pulling him back to the pain. Daryl felt peace. He knew...the gunshot wasn't the end of his dream...it was his end...the end of his life.

Beth was looking down on him, smiling. He knew...they both knew...he didn't have to leave...he never had to leave again.

He saw the tears on her cheeks...not sad tears, and he heard Beth's soft laughter while she was crying. Brushing them away gently, Daryl understood now what it meant to cry when you where happy...because there were tears in his eyes too...for them.

"What...what is this?" Daryl managed, trying to work it all out in his head.

Everything around him...he understood now...Beth's old farm house...she'd been sittin' on its steps waiting on him to get there...to get home. The fields were green, there were trees and the woods in the distance, the old fence lines reaching into the far horizon...it was just like he remembered.

What kind of house did you dream about when you were younger?

I guess when I thought about a normal life, something I knew I would never have, like a family and all that, maybe I dreamed about a place like your Dad had...I mean, I always knew that whatever I did in life, I would never make a lot of money, but to have what your Dad had...a sturdy home...and land...a man could provide for his family there no matter what...

Maybe we'll go back there someday... Beth's voice had been so filled with hope then...hope...

Who knows, Lil' Bit. Maybe your home will be ours someday.

It already was our home...your home too...we'd just be going back home...150 years of Greenes lived there...maybe the Dixons will make it that long too...

"I think this..." Beth was finally able to start answering him. "...this is our after..."

Our after...Daryl looked away, down to the ground...thinking...doubting. It couldn't be.

Beth's hands were on his face, in his hair, touching...caressing him like she needed to feel him to believe he was real.

"But...I didn't believe...I didn't have any faith after I lost you. I hated God for what happened to you..."

Lookin' back at Beth...she was the only truth...the only faith he needed.

"It's okay Daryl. He never stopped believing in...loving you." Her hand went to his back, slowing tracing, sending shivers down his spine. "No one...none of us get away from life without being tarnished. They aren't as white as they where when I first met you, but they're still there."

He didn't understand what she was sayin' at first, then he realized what she was doing. Beth was tracing his wings. He had his vest back...it was a part of who he was...who he became while he was livin'.

Beth, I'll love you for the rest of my life...

Pfft...those words that meant the world...Daryl knew they weren't enough anymore. He had to...wanted to do better than that.

"Beth, I'll love you forever." Forever...somehow it was what they had.

Crossbow slung over his shoulder right where it belonged, Daryl took the porch steps two at a time thinking Beth was right behind him. His hand went to the door, but he stopped, uncertain, looking back at Beth, but she was still at the bottom of the steps, hesitating.

"What's in there? What's on the other side?" Daryl was filled with a sense of wonder...childlike excitement...things he'd never felt before.

Beth shook her head a little, unsure.

"I don't know...I promised I would wait for you. I told you I would wait so we could walk through together..." Why was she hesitating? Her soul, it was never a soul in doubt. "Daryl...I'm scared..." Beth's voice was trembling.

Of course she was scared. It was the unknown. Daryl went back to the top of the steps, looking down to her.

"I ain't scared of nothin'." He said it soft. It wasn't a comeback. He wasn't defensive. Didn't need to be. Now, it was just the truth. He reached out to her. "I'll hold your hand."

Beth was on the first step, comin' to him, finding strength in his confidence.

After we burned the cabin...the second cabin...and I stopped in the woods to look back, you told me to follow you, that you wouldn't lead me astray. When you turned away, all I could see were the wings on your back. I knew in that moment...I didn't really know why yet, but I realized I would follow you anywhere...I was taking it on faith. I would follow you into the dark...

Now Daryl was taking it on faith.

It all really and truly began when he felt Beth's hand slide into his, and Daryl pulled her up the last step right in front of him, smiling at her. There was no reason not to smile anymore.

"Come on, Beth...I'll go first if you're scared." It should've been him first all along...he should've died...not her. But now...everything was finally how it should be. "Just...follow me into the light..."