"Maggie..." Beth breathed. The sight of her sister making her hands shake. She dropped the brush she'd been holding and ran to her. Not caring that she was covered in dirt and grime as her arms flung around her neck, pulling her close. "You're really here?" Beth asked, touching her face as if it were a dream.
Maggie gave her a nod, unable to speak through her emotions and soon both women had tears flowing down their cheeks. Daryl found himself standing off to the side watching awkwardly, chewing on the skin around his thumb nail as he held onto Molly who wasn't comfortable with the newcomer.
"How? Is anyone else with you?" Beth wanted to know everything her sister knew, figuring she was their best chance at finding the others.
Maggie wiped her eyes. "I left the prison with Bob and Sasha. Been following you for over a week now."
Beth couldn't help but smile at knowing their signs were actually being seen. It gave her back a little bit of the hope she'd lost.
"They didn't make it?" Beth asked sadly.
Maggie shook her head. "They went in a different direction. We were all headed to this place called Terminus when we saw your sign by the railroad tracks. I told them I had to do this..but they wanted to continue on in case others were there. I couldn't give up on a chance at finding you."
"They just left you?" Beth asked, biting her lip.
"No." Maggie was quick to make sure she understood. "It was my choice. We can still join them if we leave soon."
Beth paused for a moment and slowly shook her head, glancing at Daryl, then back at her sister. "We're going to the coast..." She whispered.
Maggie followed Beth's eyes, almost forgetting Daryl was even there through all the excitement. That's when she looked around and finally noticed the bite mark on Beth's neck, and the way she spoke as if she was unsure of herself. Maggie instantly got the wrong idea and felt her blood begin to boil. "Did he hurt you?" She asked in a harsh whisper that caused Beth to flinch.
Beth's ears instantly burned and she reached up to cover her neck when she realized why she asked, trying to hide her embarrassment, but before she could say anything Maggie was already moving away from her.
Daryl was in his own little world as he let the sisters catch up, leaning against a tree and picking at the bark to pass the time. When Maggie approached he was taken completely off guard as her fist collided with the side of his face, making him stumble over the log he'd been sitting on and fall to the ground.
"What the fuck?!" Daryl growled, not sure if he should hold his face or his ribs as both were screaming in protest. He managed to get to his feet just as Maggie grabbed the front of his vest and pushed him back against a tree. She was strong for her size, but he could easily overpower her if he wanted to.
"Maggie stop!" Beth yelled from behind them, watching as Daryl stood there helplessly. Beth knew he wouldn't hurt her and would take whatever she threw at him, but she was afraid Maggie might seriously injure him since he'd just barely gotten back on his feet.
"Shes just a kid!" Maggie spat, getting in Daryl's face. "How dare you take advantage of her! You're old enough to be her father!" This time she smacked him and Beth watched as his features fell, clearly hurt by her words more than the hit.
Daryl opened his mouth to speak, but snapped it back closed when he was at a loss. He clenched his jaw and jerked away from Maggie to grab his bow, flashing a glance at Beth who was standing there wide eyed. It wasn't until he started off into the woods that she finally moved and went after him.
"Daryl wait." Beth called, grabbing his elbow. "She didn't mean it."
Daryl pulled away from her, looking at Maggie for a brief second before turning away from the both of them. "But she's right."
"No she isn't! She just doesn't understand!" Beth went to grab his hand, but he was quick to avoid the contact and took a step back.
"Stop." He grumbled, shooting her a warning look before walking off. Molly whined and made the decision to go with him.
Beth stood there silently, watching as his figure faded in the distance. She couldn't go after him this time, not after that look and it made her furious. She went back to Maggie, fighting off her tears the best she could. "What the hell was that?!" Beth yelled, curling her hands into fist as she shook with anger.
Maggie placed a hand on Beth's shoulder to try and keep her calm. "I'm not going to let him hurt you."
"You really think he'd hurt me?! How do you think I survived out here for so long Maggie? If it wasn't for Daryl I wouldn't of lasted the first night after the prison!" Beth shrugged her off and sat down on the bumper of the van, dropping her head into her palms.
Maggie leaned beside her. "That doesn't mean you should let him take advantage of you just because he's all you've had, its not right."
"You don't know anything." Beth mumbled, wiping at her eyes. "Maybe you should of went to Terminus...forgotten all about me."
Maggie stared at her in disbelief. "How can you say that?"
"Because you've ruined everything!" Beth shouted, standing to face her. "For the first time since the farm I was happy. I was able to be myself, able to get out and see the world for what it truly is. I wasn't treated like glass and locked away like some useless little girl!" Beth kicked a rock in frustration and opened the back of the van to climb inside.
She stilled when Maggie tried to follow her and glared. "Stay away from me." She bit out bitterly.
"Seriously?" Maggie asked, taking a step back at her tone.
"Yes! Daryl almost died two weeks ago and you decide to start throwing punches without even talking about it just as hes getting back on his feet! Not to mention hes gone and I dunno if hes coming back!" Beth wiped at her brow. "Just leave me alone..."
"I came all this way for you Beth. I'm not going to just turn around and let it all be for nothing...I'm sorry. I over reacted. I just worry about you." Maggie sat down on the bumper then, looking in at her sister as she spoke.
"Let me ask you something." Beth said as she sat up more, leaning forward to grab the handle on the door. "When have you ever known Daryl to mistreat anyone? To put himself before someone else?" She asked, narrowing her eyes when Maggie remained silent. "Exactly." With that Beth slammed the door, shutting her sister out.
The whole walk to the river Daryl felt numb. Oblivious to the pain from Maggie's wrath as his thoughts continued to beat him down. He knew from the start he'd never amount to anything, never be good enough for Beth, and Maggie was the first person to bring him back to reality, to make him stop playing pretend. She saw him as nothing more than a worthless old redneck and that's exactly what he was. Beth deserved a good man, someone like Zach or Jimmy, not someone who would constantly be judged for loving her.
With a sigh Daryl sat down on a rock by the river bed and looked off in the distance, trying to ease the ache he felt in his chest at Maggie's words. Molly even tried to offer comfort by settling down next to him and laying her head on his knee, but it didn't help. He didn't know what to do or how to feel.
After what seemed like forever of just sitting there battling with his inner self, Daryl finally stood and let out a ragged breath, placing his finger and thumb to his eyes as he began to pace, heartbreak overwhelming him. His fist made contact with a tree before he could think to stop himself and cursed when the bark cut open his knuckles, pissing him off even more. Growling in frustration he slung his bow from around his back and started heading out further in the woods. Knowing if he could find something to hunt or even a walker to kill it would help ease some of the stress he was feeling.
Darkness was just starting to creep in when Daryl made his way back to camp with four squirrels slung over his shoulder. The only thing he cared about at the moment was getting some food in his belly and calling it a night. He didn't have the patients to deal with anymore bullshit for the evening.
"Easy." Daryl said to Molly as they approached and the dog growled at Maggie who was sitting on the ground leaned against the van.
Maggie must of picked up on the momentary panic in Daryl's eyes when he noticed Beth wasn't anywhere to be seen and she quickly pointed over her shoulder to the van to let him know where she was hiding.
Daryl gave her a silent nod and went to sit against a tree several feet away to be alone.
Molly stayed close to Daryl, laying at his side while she kept a close watch on the stranger who was invading their space.
"How long have you had the dog?" Maggie asked out of nowhere, causing Daryl to tense. He'd been so caught up in preparing the squirrel that he'd forgotten she was even there.
He gave her a quick glance and tried to figure out why she was trying to start up a conversation with him after everything. She made it pretty clear she was disgusted with his choices and that he was as good as nothing in her eyes, so he remained silent and went back to placing pieces of cut up meat to the side.
With a sigh Maggie stood and took a step forward, watching as Daryl reached out a hand to keep Molly planted on the ground when she growled at the sudden movement.
Maggie carefully sat down on a log and tried to get the fire going they'd let die out during his absence. "She's not gonna hurt me is she?" She asked, keeping a close eye on the dog Daryl had a hold of.
Still nothing. Daryl didn't even look up this time as he let Molly go and went back to skinning the last squirrel.
"Hey...I Just-" Maggie pushed, getting irritated he was ignoring her, but was interrupted before she could finish.
Daryl stood then, surprising her. "What do ya want from me woman?" He asked, holding his knife in one hand and the meat he'd been cutting in the other as he stared down at her.
Maggie continued to stay seated, meeting his eyes. "About what I said before...You have to understand I only want whats best for my sister. She's the only family I have left."
"Whats that got ta do with ya pestering me?" Daryl grumbled.
Maggie moved to place a few sticks on the fire she was slowly bringing to life. "I don't want her to get hurt."
Daryl clenched his jaw and gripped the handle of his knife until his knuckles were white. He'd never hurt Beth and it pissed him off she thought he was even capable of such a thing. "I get it alright? I ain't no good for her...Fine...just leave me be."
"Daryl?" Beth called as the back door to the van swung open and she stepped out, cutting their conversation short.
He was mid step to go back to his tree when her voice hit his ears and caused him to swallowed hard, stopping him where he stood with his back to her. His shoulders tensed when he felt a hand upon them and instantly dropped his head to stare at the ground, trying to control the shaking in his hands.
"Can we talk?" Beth asked, sliding her hand down his back when she felt how rigid he'd gone at her touch.
Daryl took in a deep breath. "Ain't got nothin' ta say." He wanted to distance himself to make things easier, to prepare himself to let go, but he couldn't move, his feet refused to corporate with his mind when it was telling him to run.
"Well, I have plenty to say." Beth told him as she grabbed his wrist gently to make him look at her.
Instead of turning to face her like she wanted, he carefully pulled away from her grip with a pain expression, finally getting control over his body enough to move. "I got shit ta do..." He mumbled and went to grab the meat he'd been preparing before sitting by the fire.
Maggie kept quiet from where she was perched on her log and watched Beth kneel at Daryl's side.
"You promised...you promised me you wouldn't do this..." Beth whispered, even though she knew Maggie could still hear them.
"What is it I'm doin' exactly?" He asked as he placed some meat over the flame.
"You're pushing me away again." Beth said, reaching out to steady his hand when she saw how shaky it was.
Daryl bit the inside of his cheek and sighed as he wiped his hands on his jeans. He flicked his eyes in Maggie's direction, then over at Beth before resting his elbows on his knees and rubbing his palms over his face. "Fuck I need a smoke." It wouldn't come though. He'd smoked his last cigarette earlier that morning and was now kicking himself for not saving it for when he really needed it.
"What you need to do is talk to me. Nothing has changed between us, so why are you acting like this?" Beth went to place her hand on his thigh, but he stood right as she went to move her arm. "You better not walk away from me Daryl Dixon." She threatened, standing to put herself in front of him.
Daryl looked down at the demanding young woman and scratched his chin, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I ain't gonna be the reason you and ya sis don't get along. Ya need yer family more than ya need this...I don't wanna be the stupid bastard everyone thinks took advantage of ya like some pervert and have people chasin' my ass around with pitch forks. Told ya before this was wrong...ya deserve-."
"Stop it!" Beth spat, cutting him off.
Daryl flinched and snapped his mouth shut almost instantly.
Maggie stared at her sister, surprised at how much she had changed in the short amount of time they were separated, along with how much control she actually had over Daryl. She'd never seen the man back down that easily from anyone.
"Does it really matter what anyone else thinks? After everything we've been through together you're just going to suddenly change the way you feel about us because of what one person says? If you love me it shouldn't matter what the rest of the world thinks. What matters is that we make each other happy." Beth was hurt. She felt like everything was caving in around her and struggled to stay strong, at least until she was finished saying what she needed to say.
Daryl rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He didn't want to push her away, but he also didn't want her to suffer because of how people would react to them together, especially people they knew. "Ya fuckin' know I love ya..." He whispered, a little embarrassed to say it with Maggie listening. "And I always will, but what happens when we find the others? I can't stand ta see that look on ya face again when someone else thinks I'm a sick fuck. When someone else decides ta take a swing at me. That what ya want? Ta constantly be judged when ya could be with someone better?"
"There isn't anyone better..." Beth told him softly, placing her hands on his cheeks while looking into his stormy blue eyes. They were so full of emotion in that moment she was afraid she wouldn't be able to get through to him this time. She'd managed to break down a lot of his barriers, made open up about personal things and saw a side of him she didn't know existed, but this was something she knew had been bugging him for a long time and she still didn't know how to help him get passed it.
"Ya just haven't found 'em yet." Daryl grumbled, avoiding her eyes when she frowned.
"And I don't want to...I love you." Her voice was strained and he knew she was about to lose the battle she'd been having with herself since the beginning of this conversation.
"Christ." Daryl said with clenched teeth. "Don't do that...Don't ya even think 'bout cryin'. That shit ain't fair." At that he reached up to remove her hands from his face to get away from her. He knew she wouldn't cry on purpose just to get her way, not with her knowing how much it killed him to see her red eyed and choked up, but there was a chance she'd slip and he wouldn't be able to keep himself from comforting her. Making him seem like an even bigger asshole for putting her through all this.
"Enough!" Maggie shouted out of nowhere, standing up in the process. "I'm the one you should be mad at, not each other...just stop."