Beth walked into the foyer of the house Daryl and Aaron had led them too. When they had arrived Beth almost couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was a community, a very big one at that. And all this time it had withstood this world. It was amazing. It was unbelievable. Sure, they had tall, sturdy walls but that didn't mean anything in this world nowadays.

Beth ran her fingers over one of the walls in the kitchen. Someone flicked on a light and it startled her slightly. Dr. Edwards was wearing his surprise and excitement more outright than Beth was.

"This is miraculous. All this time, this place has been here?" Dr. Edwards was clearly impressed.

"I'll show you to your room so you can get some sleep." Aaron said and Edwards followed but Beth stayed put. Aaron looked over at Beth but Daryl dismissed them. Aaron nodded as he led Edwards away.

Daryl beckoned for Beth to sit but she shook her head, still looking around the house. It was really nice. Like one of the houses her, Maggie, Shawn, and Daddy would see as they would make trips into town to get groceries and what not. Her chest constricted a little and she shoved the memory form her mind.

She was brought out of her thoughts by Daryl's voice."The others could be awake."

Beth stiffened at his words. She wasn't ready to see anyone else, definitely not Maggie. Was Maggie even still alive?

"How many are still…" Beth couldn't finish the sentence, she didn't really want to know the answer if she was being completely honest with herself.

Daryl's eyes settled on her as he took in a deep breath, "Bob… He didn't make it. Tyreese died at Noah's place. And Noah… He-", Daryl saw the look on Beth's face and decided to just end his sentence with, "He didn't make it either." He paused, trying to think of anyone else then he started again, "Mica and Lizzie too."

Beth nodded her head. So many casualties and yet, she was standing right here. Right here in this living room. Why was she spared? Why did she deserve to live and them to die? She didn't. She had just gotten lucky, like she always had survived on. Pure luck. She didn't know why she felt disgusted with herself. It wasn't her fault they had died.

She shook her head, "So Maggie's alive?"

Daryl nodded. Beth was happy, she was. But not as much as she felt she should be. She knew why. If Maggie wasn't dead yet she would be. So would Daryl. So would Rick. They would all die and she would have to watch and deal with it. It was the main reason why she secretly hoped she would never find them again. She didn't want to go through another funeral, but it was inevitable.

"You wanna go see her?" Daryl muttered, eyes locked on her.

She shook her head, "No, not… yet."

Daryl brought his thumb to his mouth and started chewing the thumbnail there as Beth walked over to the fireplace. The next words she said, he had not expected.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know if I want to see anyone at all."

He had to have heard her wrong. "What?" He asked, hoping she had something else other than what she had.

She looked up from the fireplace and stared at him, "I… How… Daryl, how am I supposed to go back? How am I supposed to live in a place like this? Like everything is fine and nothing will ever happen to the ones I care most about. Because it's a lie. It's a lie Daryl, and I don't know if I wanna stay around to watch that happen."

She knew she didn't make sense. She knew she was being belligerent. But it was how she felt.

It was a long while but Daryl finally spoke, "Beth, you need ta get some rest." He took a few steps towards her and she took a couple steps away from him. "You're safe here, Beth. We all are."

Beth scoffed and actually laughed a little at his response, "No one is ever safe in this hell. Never."

Daryl was trying to understand, he really was. But he couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that this was the new Beth Greene. Her hope was completely diminished. He couldn't accept that.

"Why'd you come here then?" He hadn't meant for it to come out the way it did but Beth didn't seem upset by it. She actually looked stumped like she was searching for an answer.

"I don't know."

Daryl's anger and annoyance was getting the better of him, "That's not good enough Beth. You have ta have a reason."

Her eyes narrowed, "What do you want me to say Daryl?" Her voice came out strained and whiney.

"I want ya' to say you came back to be with us. To be here." Daryl didn't recognize the pleading tone in his voice.

"I did… I just… It's gonna take some time."

Daryl should understand. He should be content with her answer. But he was't. "How much time Beth? 'Cause I can't keep you hidden forever."

Beth's voice rose an octive, "I'm not asking for forever Daryl! I'm asking for some time."

He looked away from her, "What if I come back one day and you ain't here? You just leave."

Beth looked down at her feet, "Then… It was for the best."

"What the fuck does that mean, Beth?" He couldn't control the anger that was searing thorugh him. She would just leave him again? Just like that? Before she could say anything in response he started again, "No, you don't get to do that, Beth. You don't just walk back into a person's life and then decide to just leave. Just to leave for your selfish reasons."

Beth took a few steps towards him, "How dare you! Selfish? I haven't been part of this group and you have done fine without me-"

"I was not fine without you."

Beth stopped and it wasn't his words but it was his eyes that switched something in her brain. His eyes conveyed a sadness that Beth thought wasn't possible for a human to show. She thought she saw a few tears residing in them but she wasn't close enough to tell.

"Daryl…"

Daryl shook his head walking away from her, "Hurt like hell, ya' know…" Beth watched him turning away from her, her throat suddenly dry. "Hurt to lose you once… Losing you twice though… That…"

Beth took the few steps forward and forgot about why they were fighting in the first place. She threw her arms around him much like she had at the cabin in the woods. That was such a distant memory. So much time had passed, but it just seemed so natural to be holding him like this.

Though this time his hands came up to hers and at first she thought he was just going to leave them there but he swiveled so he was crushing her into his chest in a suffocating hug. Beth closed her eyes and rested her cheek on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry." Beth choked out.