A/N: Hey all! As always that you all so much for reviewing, following, and favoriting. You guys rock! Once again, thank you all for being patient with me... I know I take forever to update. I do not own The Walking Dead.

Enjoy!

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Chapter 6: Gratitude

The sun had long past gone down before Daryl made his rounds around the cell block. The harsh concrete walls seemed taller tonight. The bared windows seemed to have risen miles above hard floor since that morning. It was chillier, like all the warmth had been sucked out by a vacuum. The air felt stiff, suffocating even; it was as if death himself had his skeletal fingers wrapped around Daryl's windpipe. The cell block seemed to wreak with sorrow and despair. Every once and a while, he could hear the quite tell-tale sniffling of barely suppressed sobs penetrate the eerie silence. For the first time since arriving, their fortified safe haven really did feel like a prison.

"Jesus," He breathed as he leaned against the cold wall. Today had been a horrible day. The worse they'd had since the farm. Catastrophic, didn't even begin to cover it. In the past 12 hours, three people- no, three family members had died.

T-Dog.

Lori.

Carol.

All of them.

Gone.

What was that phrase? When one door closes, another opens. As one life ends, another begins. A baby had been born and three people, three extraordinary people, were dead. The world was cruel like that. Daryl was no stranger to loss, it had been an active part of his life for as long as he could remember. But today, today really hit him hard. Harder than he would've ever felt possible. He'd lost one of his closest friends and there wasn't even a body to bury, just a dirty floral scarf.

The sound of the baby crying for the mother she would never have pulled Daryl out of his reverie. He turned his head and spotted Beth sitting in her cell, desperately trying to calm the wailing infant in her arms. Poor thing didn't even have a proper name yet; Lil' Ass Kicker would only suffice for so long. Lori probably would've hated the title anyway. Beth looked exhausted as she rocked the squirming bundle of clothes back and forth. As he got closer, he noticed how disheveled she'd become since that afternoon. Her pale blonde hair was twisted into a frizzy ponytail that looked like it had seen better days. Her normally bright blue eyes were bloodshot and red-rimmed. It was almost as if she'd aged five years in the last day, any trace of adolescence gone. Impulsively, he made his way towards her.

"Beth, you got a sec?" He asked once he'd approached her.

Beth glanced up, her tired eyes full of confusion.

"Um, yeah sure. Do I need to hand her off or..?" She trailed off and motioned to the baby.

"Nah, you can bring her. Just c'mon, I got somethin' for you."

Beth studied him suspiciously before following him out. About midway up the stairs to his perch, it hit Daryl how wrong it would look if anyone- Hershel or Maggie- caught him leading Beth up to his bed in the middle of the night. Not that he would ever do something like that. Sure Beth was pretty, but he'd get eaten alive before he took advantage of her. Besides she was what, sixteen? Seventeen? Didn't matter. She was one of Hershel's girls, therefore off limits.

"Wait here," He said after they reached the top of the steps. She nodded and turned all of her attention back to the baby. Daryl knelt down at the foot of his mattress and started rifling through his things until he finally pulled out what he was searching for. When he turned back around, Beth was sitting on the top ledge of the stairs humming softly to the girl in her arms. She'd calmed down some, her piercing wails were now nothing more than soft whimpers. Daryl stood and just stared for a moment, unsure of how to approach her. Beth seemed to sense his awkward stance because she looked up patted a spot on her right for him to sit. He wordlessly obliged and plopped down unceremoniously next to her.

"You know how a few months back, we were staying in those storage units?" He asked.

"Unfortunately yes," She groaned.

"I was lookin' around one night, you know- seein' if there was anythin' useful. And I found this," He said, revealing an old fabric baby sling. "I was gonna surprise Lori with it, for when Lil' Ass Kicker was born, so she could carry her around and keep her hands free and stuff. It's old and it don't smell the prettiest, but I figured she'd like it. Ya know?"

"She would've appreciated it." She said.

"You want it?" He asked after a minute.

Beth's eyebrows shot up.

"What?"

"You don't have to keep it if you don't wanna." Daryl said. "I was just thinkin', 'cause her momma ain't exactly around anymore and she's gonna need someone to take care of her. From what I've seen, that's been you. At least, ya know, 'til Rick-"

"Thank you," She cut him off. "Here, can you take her while I…" She gestured to the sling.

"Yeah, give her here." He said and reached for her. As soon as the infant left the warm cradle of Beth's arms, she began to fuss.

"Shh shh shh. You're alright, sweetheart. You're okay," Daryl crooned softly, cradling her close to his chest.

"You've got quite a way with her," Beth noted.

"Nah, I think she just likes beein' held." He shrugged and rocked the baby softly.

"Whatever you say. Alright, how's it look? Secure?" She asked once she had it tied the musty sling completely around her slim body.

"Yeah, should work."

"Okay, can I-"

"Yeah," He gently handed her back to Beth.

Carefully, Beth took the baby and gently placed her in the space between the fabric of the sling and her breasts; cocooning her in a swaddle of warmth and protection.

"Daryl, thank you so much for this. You have no idea how helpful this will be,"

"Ain't nothin'."

"Why do you always do that?"

"Do what?"

"Say 'it ain't nothin' whenever someone thanks you for anythin'?" She asked.

Daryl shrugged. In all honesty, he had never really thought about it. Saying, "it ain't nothin'" had always been his way. He didn't need thanks or assurance for his actions. They didn't matter. He'd pull his weight and do whatever he could to keep his people safe. Anyone would do those things, and Daryl Dixon was no different. Acknowledging it would be no more than a wasted breath.

"Iunno, I just do I guess." He said nonchalantly.

"Well they aren't nothin', they're everythin'. Give yourself some credit. You do so much and you brush it off like it's no big deal, but it is!" She insisted.

Daryl looked at his feet, unsure of how to respond.

"I'm sorry, I know it ain't my place to say those things to you." She said.

"Nah it's fine… Um, thanks." He said.

"Anytime," She said as she rose to her feet. "Well, I should go. Can't have this one be pullin' an all-nighter already,"

She was about halfway down the steps when Daryl called out to her.

"Beth?"

"Yes?"

"I-uh. I just… I wanted to say I'm sorry for, ya know, bein' a dick to you for the past couple of months. I shouldn't've said those things, you didn't deserve it."

"Oh, well, it's okay."

"Nah, it's not. You were just bein' nice and I snapped, that's on me."

"Daryl, it's alright."

"I shouldn't of-"

"Stop… I forgive you,"

"But-"

"I forgive you."

Without another word, Beth turned back around and walked away.

A/N: He finally apologized! Yay! Thank you so much for reading, I hope you liked it! As always, please make sure to let me know how you felt about this installment. I live for your thoughts! Also (this is a side note), I had an AU idea pop in my head a few nights ago surrounding our favorite ship (Bethyl, who else?). Let me know if you guys think I should pursue it, I've never written an AU before so I'd love to hear your input. It's still in the very early outline stages but I hope that I'll be able to publish at least the first chapter before the summer is over. Anyway, until next time!