They didn't speak again about Daryl's breakdown. Instead, Beth gave him some space and stayed quiet, finding a ragged newspaper to look through as he sat in the chair beside her. The silence had changed from an awkward, unbearable one that was taut with tension to comfortable and companionable. She didn't feel the need to fill the silence like she had previously, knowing that the tension between them had now diffused. Beth was glad that Daryl had let his emotions out. If anything it made him feel better rather than burdening himself with them.

Eventually the air grew cooler and the sun began to set. It was almost fully dark, the type of murky dark that lurks around for a little while before finally giving over and allowing the real night to set in. Beth though of the half dark like an annoying sibling; still vying for the final bit of attention before it's more appreciated sibling arrived. Her mind wandered to Maggie and she wondered, if she was alive, what she was doing and who she was with. She hoped she had made it out with Glenn. She felt the sadness begin to creep in, and wanted to avoid spoiling the calmer atmosphere. Standing up, she brushed her hands against her jeans.

'We should sit outside on the porch,' she suggested.

To her surprise, Daryl agreed. It was cooler outside, the sky was clear and a blanket of stars decorated the inky blackness. The moon was out; full and proud, illuminating the tree tops with it's milky glow. The pair settled on the porch, clinking their jars of moonshine together softly in a toast to being alive. If it wasn't for the bloody, soiled clothes they were wearing, and the fact that they were still on high alert for walkers, it could have been like any other normal night, drinking out in the summer air with a friend. Beth knew that's what Daryl had become, in some unspoken bond after she had stood hugging him as he sobbed, he had gone from protector, babysitter and just a companion to her friend.

'I get why my Dad stopped drinking,' she smiled as she sipped.

'You feel sick? I hate puke.'

'I just wish I could feel like this all the time you know? Calm, and warm. I feel relaxed for the first time since the prison. That's bad isn't it?'

'Hmm. You're lucky you're a happy drunk.'

'Yeah, I mean, some people can be real jerks when they're drunk,' she nudged him playfully with the toe of her boot, smiling to let him know she didn't mean it.

He gave a half chuckle. 'I can be a real dick when I'm drunk. Merle had this dealer, this janky little white guy. One day when we were over there, Merle started talking shit about some show on tv. Merle had this thing where he never let up, no matter how annoyed the other person was getting or even when he knew he was gonna get his ass kicked.'

He paused, remembering, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

'Anyway, the guy gets real mad and punches Merle in the face. Turns out the show was his kid's favourite and he didn't get to see his kid…or some dumb shit. So I punched him, and he pulled a gun and everyone is yelling…it's just chaos. I thought 'this is it, you're gonna die…''

'How'd you get out of it?' Beth realised she was leaning forward in eagerness over the ending of his story.

'The guy punched me in the guy. I puked and they both started laughing and forgot about it.'

Beth laughed. 'Guess you were lucky.'

Daryl shrugged. 'You wanna know what I was before all this? I was nothing. I was nobody. I just followed Merle around all day, the big asshole redneck and his little brother just drifting around.'

'You miss him don't you?' Beth asked. 'I miss Maggie. And Shawn.' She felt tears started and let out a nervous laugh to stop them. 'And my Dad.'

She sipped her drink before continuing. The hole in her heart from losing him ached. 'I always thought he'd have a peaceful life, you know? I know people never wanted this for any of their loved ones, but my Dad…I just though he'd live the rest of his life happy. Glenn and Maggie would have a baby and he'd be Grandpa and do all the stuff with the baby like he did with us as kids. And we'd have holidays and birthdays together, we'd go on picnics. I mean, I knew it would happen but I thought he would go at a very old age; peacefully and happy surrounded by everyone he loved. That's how unbelievably stupid I am,' her voice cracked. She took a gulp of the moonshine.

'It's how it was meant to be,' Daryl said, softly.

'I wish I could just change…'

'You did,' he reassures her. 'From the farm, to now…'

'Not enough. Not like you. You're strong and you can deal with how things are. It's like you were made for how the world is now.'

'It's what I'm used to Beth, I'm used to things being ugly and broken. I've never known any different.'

She felt a stab of pain for him, for the way his life was and then she shook it away. He had come so far too. He could be proud to be nothing like his brother. And now, he had a family who cared for him and loved him. He was accepted and not alone. Beth thought that was something he liked the most, not that he would ever admit it.

'Well, you got away from it,' she said.

'I didn't.'

'Yes, Daryl,' she said levelly. 'You did.'

'Maybe you gotta keep reminding me some time.'

'No. You can't depend on anyone for anything, remember? I'll be gone someday. You're gonna be the last man standing. You are.'

'Stop,' he mumbled, trying to cut her off.

She looked at him, face half lit in the moonlight, his shaggy and unkempt hair falling over his cheekbones and she knew she was right. He was strong and he had changed so much today; he had allowed himself to feel.

'You're gonna miss me so bad when I'm gone, Daryl Dixon.'

He paused from jabbing his knife into a wooden beam to glance up at her. 'You're not a happy drunk at all.'

'I am. I'm just not blind.'

'We should go inside,' he said, standing up. 'Come on.'

He extended a hand down to help her up but she didn't take it. She had a better idea that involved not going back inside that depressing shack.

'We should burn it down,' she told him, steadily. She laughed at the absurdity of her idea.

Daryl blanched, looking at her like she'd lost her mind. For a few silent beats, she expected him to tell her absolutely not and then his face softened.

'We're gonna need more booze.'

Beth giggled, taking his still outstretched hand and allowed him to pull her to his feet. Gathering up all the remaining alcohol, they splashed it furiously around inside the shack, laughing like children. They exhausted the entire supply of moonshine, coating the walls and ceiling until everything was sodden and the stench of alcohol fumes invaded their nostrils and burned their throats with its thick scent.

Scurrying outside, Daryl dug into the leather backpack for a wad of money that he had taken from the country club.

He held it up, handing a matchbook to her. 'You wanna?'

'Hell yeah,' she grinned at him, striking the match. It lit with a satisfying 'whoosh' and she held it to the money until it caught. Daryl tossed it, and immediately the shack lit up. The heat from the flames warmed their faces as they stood and watched in glee, the fire licking up the wooden beams and connecting with the alcohol to ignite the entire structure.

Beth beamed as she watched it burn. The sadness and upset melted away from her and as she watched Daryl's body visibly relax, she knew this was his catharsis - watching his past burn away in front of him - and she was overjoyed that she was part of it. She raised her middle finger in a defiant salute to the burning building, and nudged Daryl in a silly encouragement to do the same. He complied, and they stood in unison, fingers raised as the shack became engulfed in the fire.

'Come on,' Daryl prompted, spotting some walkers moving through the trees to find the source of the noise.

With a final glance at the shack, Beth started through the woods and into the dark. She knew from now on she didn't need a purpose to get through each day, and she knew that she would no longer have to encounter sour, surly Daryl again. As she turned to make sure her friend was following her, she noticed the smile on his lips. It was a genuine smile and she turned back to allow him to have his private moment.