Michonne and I had made it back to where we started. It took us nearly an hour, but we got there, somehow dodging the horde that had us surrounded at the hotel. The head of the walker that Merle had attacked with Michonne's katana was still snapping his jaws at the air. I looked on quietly as Michonne shoved her sword into its mouth, ending it's life.

"Beau?" I heard a familiar voice call out over the air. I turned slowly, just as Daryl turned down the street. He smiled at me, running up to me quickly, taking me into his arms tightly. "Are you hurt?" He asked, inspecting my eye. "I'll fuckin kill him!" I had earned another black eye when Merle knocked me out, this one however wasn't nearly as bad as the one Shane had given me.

"No! No Daryl." I said quietly. He looked at me confused.

"Did you kill him." I shook my head, holding back a sob. Daryl seemed to relax and I sighed. Daryl began to run off and I glanced at Michonne. She gestured for me to follow him and I gave her a tight smile before running after Daryl.

"Go back!" He yelled back to me. "You need to get looked at by Hershel, that shiner aint good." He didn't stop running and I was having trouble keeping up, already tired from my earlier adventure.

"No! I'm going with you."

"Why?!" Daryl yelled, stopping in his tracks. I paused next to him, leaning over to catch my breath.

"Because I'm not gonna let you kill him." I said plainly. Daryl scoffed, shaking his head at me.

"He beat the hell outta you, kidnapped you, drug you miles away from safety to sell you out to a man who's gonna have his way with you." Daryl paused, taking a deep breath. "I may be younger'n him, but I'm gonna beat him within an inch of his life." I frowned at Daryl.

"He was doing what he thought best. He was doing it for you." I reached out to take his arm, but he pulled away roughly.

"That only makes me madder!" He spat. I flinched and his face softened. He grabbed my chin, turning my face to his. His eyes bore into mine, a mix of so many emotions behind them. One second he was happy, the next his was raging mad and then he was sad. He pecked my forehead, then his lips gravitated towards mine, where they lingered for a moment, before pulling away. "I wont hit him." He said finally. I smiled at him and he bit his lip. "Hard." He added, before running off down the street.

I told Daryl what he was planning to do and he knew just where to go. The Governor and his man had intended to meet us back at the mill for Michonne's drop off point. It seemed darker than before and I was honestly terrified to be here. If the Governor's men were still here they'd gladly take me as collateral and kill Daryl without hesitation.

Daryl could sense that I felt that something was wrong and he hesitated before rounding the silo. He signaled the all clear and I followed him quietly. Walkers were laying dead everywhere, as well as a few new looking corpses. I recognized a few of them as the men that Martinez brought with him that day at the prison.

"There." I pointed to the black sedan that Merle had hotwired with Michonne and I. Daryl nodded, walking off quickly towards the back of the field, where the shed was standing. We walked past body after body, some had their heads blown off, some of them were chewed on. Almost all of them were The Governor's men. "Looks like Merle kicked some ass." I grimaced as we slowly approached another walker making a meal out of a dead man. Daryl smirked at me before shooting him dead.

We turned a corner as Daryl loaded another bolt and I stopped in my tracks. There was another walker in front of me and my heart stopped as I realized I recognized this one. His broad shoulders and his short hair, the way he carried himself and mostly the metal stump at the end of his right arm.

I inhaled sharply, swatting backwards at Daryl to catch his attention. He shuffled a moment before growing still, walking up rigidly beside me. Neither of us said a word, the only sound to be heard was the walker gnawing on the poor man underneath him. The walker stopped, realizing he had company, and slowly looked up at us.

"Oh god…" I muttered, feeling a stab of pain in my chest. I hunched over, the feeling of dismay overwhelming me, and Daryl began to breath heavily beside me. Merle studied us, his eyes calculating, realizing his next meal was standing in front of him. Daryl began to sob beside me and I felt tears stinging at my eyes.

Merle was dead and his reanimated corpse now stared up at us silently, his face bloodied from the intestines he was just feeding on. Slowly he stood, his sunken, sullen, dead eyes never leaving us. He tripped clumsily over the corpse in front of him and I sobbed, burying my face in my elbow.

Sure, I was livid with the man and when he returned to camp I planned on beating his ass something fierce, but I knew he didn't mean it, he could even go through with giving me or Michonne up. He thought it for the best in a few moments of weakness, but in the end he proved he was a good man.

Daryl cried quietly from beside me, shying away from his dead brother. I took a few steps back as well, still shocked, begging what I was seeing to not be true. Daryl shoved the walker back forcefully.

"No!" Daryl yelled, shoving him again. Merle snarled at him, regaining his already sloppy footing and Daryl shoved him for a third time, this time bringing his knife into Merle's chest. I whimpered, wiping a few stray tears from my eyes.

"No, no, no…" I repeated quietly, watching Daryl wrestle his brother to the ground. Daryl was on top of him now, and he brought his knife down quickly between Merle's eyes. I jumped as Daryl brought his knife back, and then down again and again and again. I fell to my knees, unable to look away from the two brothers as Daryl slowly lost his mind.

"Daryl…" I said quietly. The man didn't hear me, and he continued to stab his brother. "Daryl." Again my cries fell on deaf ears. "Daryl!" I yelled, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. He fell backwards into me, crying heavily, his knife dropping from his hand. I held him tightly, rocking him back and forth as he sobbed uncontrollably.

I kissed the top of his head, letting my lips linger there, and I cried into his hair, burying my face in his brown mop. I wasn't sure what was the worst part of my day, being betrayed by Merle, a man who was the closest thing to a brother in law I'd ever have, watching Daryl kill him, or hearing Daryl sobbing uncontrollably, and not being able to do a thing about it.

I sniffed, managing to tear my eyes away from Merle's body. Our scene had piqued the interest of a nearby walkers and now they made their way over to us. My body went rigid.

"Daryl we have to leave." I said quickly. His choked sobs grew quiet and he sat up straighter in my lap, pulling away from me. My eyes wandered the crowd, where there had only been a few before, there now stood more. "Daryl we have to leave now!" I said panicked.

Daryl leapt to his feet, pulling me up with him. He searched the crowd, trying desperately to find an opening. Back the way we came was completely crowded. I reached for my knife, taking it tightly in my hands.

"Run!" Daryl shouted, darting for a break in the wall of walkers. I followed him, stabbing a nearby zombie with my knife. I hastily removed it from it's skull, ducking another walker as I did. Daryl fought tooth and nail, me right behind him. I kicked out, pushing back an entire wave of them, breaking up loose from the fold.

We had managed to make it to the street, which was relatively deserted. Snarling followed us and I took off down the road towards the prison, Daryl following fast on my heels. We followed the road as far as we could before dark.

"I can't run anymore Daryl…" I said weakly, panting as I did.

"We can't get caught out here!" He snapped angrily. I flinched, taking another deep breath. "That house there." Daryl pointed across the street at a small home. He grabbed my hand, pulling me behind him roughly, leading me through the back yard and to the back door.

Daryl kicked it in urgently, tossing me inside and locking the deadbolt behind us. Snarls could be heard outside and my heart began to pound rapidly. We hadn't had time to properly clear the house. I looked around warily, pulling my knife free.

I took a few shaky steps forward, inching around the wall that led from the kitchen to the living room. It was empty, of walkers and the essentials. Somebody had already looted the place, hopefully the owners and not an unfriendly.

"Daryl." I said quietly, pointing to a room down the hall. There was no answer and I checked behind me. Daryl wasn't there. I began to panic, half sprinting back down the hall and in to the kitchen. "Daryl!" I hissed, turning the corner into the kitchen.

Daryl was where we came in, except instead of standing he was sitting in the floor, his back leaning against the door. He was slumped over and I stepped forward warily, crouching quietly next to him. I reached out slowly, putting my hand on his arm.

Daryl looked up at me, his eyes red. He jerked his arm away and I frowned at him. He watched me quietly for a second, the silence in the room only broken by a loud sob. Daryl buried his face in his hands.

I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to say. I watched him cry, something I could honestly say I'd never thought I'd see him do. Again I reached out to his hand, taking it in mine, and pulling to my lips, kissing it gently.

It grew quiet once the sun went down. Any walkers that saw us come into the house had wandered off in search of easier prey. Daryl had sat down quietly in the living room, staring at the blank TV. I took this time to clear the house.

The kitchen had been mostly emptied, any canned goods they had were taken. I scowled, shutting the cabinets and heading off down the hallway to the back bedrooms. The bed to the master seemed to be in tact, it was still made even. I frowned, taking it all in, remembering the nostalgia of making my bed.

As I walked into the room I realized that that was the only neat about it. Whoever packed left in quite a hurry, and the bed room was in as much disarray as every other room in the house.

I took a seat on the bed, sighing as I did. It felt good to sit down, especially after the long day I had. I ran my hand through my hair, wincing as I did. My head was still tender from where Merle hit me.

"Ya okay?" Daryl asked quietly from the door. Through the darkness I could vaguely make out his figure leaning against the doorframe.

"I feel like I should be asking you that." I replied quietly. Daryl sat next to me on the bed, tenderly touching my cheek. I winced as his fingers pressed up against the shiner that Merle gave me. Daryl pulled his hand away slowly, sighing.

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't apologize." I turned to him, staring at him through the darkness. "You don't need to apologize. I forgave Merle the second he let us go. I know he didn't want to go through with it. In a way he was trying to do what was best for everyone." Daryl said nothing, his hands resting lightly on my shoulders. He took a shaky breath. "Your brother was brave to do what he did. I'd even go so far as to see he may have evened our odds."

Again the room was quiet. I frowned, wishing that he would say something. Daryl leaned back on the bed, pulling me with him. I nestled into his chest while he played with my hair.

"He aint never done anything like that before…"

"Some people are late bloomers." I offered. "Some people just need time to show their true colors."

We arrived back at the prison the next morning. Immediately we were greeted by smiling faces, but Daryl and I simply brushed past them all. I watched the back of his head silently and he walked slowly through the crowd of people. He retreated up the stairs, not even looking back at us.

I sighed as I watched him go, frowning after him. I heard his crossbow clatter to the floor, our cell door slammed and cot creaked, he was done for the day. Last night had been a long one, and he didn't sleep much. He was up protecting the house, I think finding Merle had scarred him, he was broken inside.

I tried my best to fix it, but I had come up short. We spoke for ten minutes the night before, but that was it. he chose to remain silent about what had happened with Merle. I felt bad, like I had put him between a rock and a hard place. I knew he was angry with his brother for taking Michonne and I, but I knew he felt torn about being angry with mourning him. And there was me, smack in the middle of his two emotions.

"Hey," A soft voice sounded from beside me. It stirred me from my thoughts and I looked up, faking a smile. Rick stood next to me quietly, his hands buried in his pockets. "Are you alright?" he asked, just as quietly. I sniffed nodding my head.

"I'm fine." I assured him, turning to walk back into the common area. Rick grabbed my wrist firmly, stopping me. I sighed, turning back to him.

"What happened out there?"

"Where would you like me to begin?" I chuckled faintly, thinking back to what happened between Merle, Michonne and I.

"I know what Merle did, taking you and Michonne. I promise you that wasn't me-"

"I know." I interrupted him quietly. Rick paused before letting go of my arm. "I know it wasn't you. Merle…" I trailed off, looking at the floor. "Merle was protecting this prison, and that's how he should be remembered."

"Did Daryl…?" Rick said quietly, trailing off and looking at the floor. Again I sighed, nodding.

"Merle took a horde to the rendezvous point, after he let Michonne and I go… He took out quite a few of The Governor's troops but…" I felt the tears burning, but I blinked them away, rubbing a hand down my face. "He turned and Daryl had to put him down." I could barely finish. Rick nodded, frowning. He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, glancing back up to where our cell was.

"I will make sure that everyone realizes that he meant the best. I'll make sure they know what he did." There was shuffling behind us and I turned to see Michonne carrying out a box of supplies. I gestured to her.

"Michonne? Is she-"

"She's staying. One of us now." Rick smiled at me tightly. I nodded.

"I'm not gonna say it's the right choice… but it definitely isn't the wrong one." I grinned, wiping my eyes. A few tears had made their way through. Rick nodded, rubbing my shoulder.

"Should we go talk to him?" Rick asked me.

"We should leave him alone for a bit, he'll be ready when we need him, but right now…" Rick nodded, understanding where I was coming. Slowly we turned away walking towards the others.

I had been tasked with standing watch in the guard tower closest to the yard. We had decided it best to evacuate, give them a subtle feeling of relief when they rushed in guns blazing. I looked down across the yard to where Maggie and Glenn were hiding in wait, dressed to the nines in riot gear.

I laughed as I looked at them, finally not feeling as silly in my gear, and turned back to the street. It was quiet outside, a feeling that was completely off putting. The two way that Rick had leant me crackled and I jumped. I took a deep, nervous breath, scolding myself, before grabbing it up.

"Got anything up there, Darlin?" It was Daryl. I sighed, shaking my head. I realized too late that he couldn't see me and my cheeks flushed as he came across the intercom again. "Beau, if you don't answer me I'm gonna come up there and kick your ass."

"Sorry, no, nothing yet." I suppressed a tight smile. He didn't want me up here, but with the concussion I received from Merle, Hershel thought it best if I was withdrawn from the fight as much as possible. There was a pause before the radio crackled again.

"Keep us posted, Beau and keep your radio on you at all times. We don't need you getting cut off from help." It was Rick this time. He spoke to me almost scoldingly and I sighed, setting the radio back down on the ledge next to me.

"Will do sir." I muttered to myself sarcastically. Rick had given me one of the assault rifles, but my eyes wandered to the sniper that laid up against the walk next to me. He didn't have a chance to teach me, but Daryl said it was easy enough. I just had to breath into my shot, just like with my bow.

There was a low rumbling off in the distance and my heart skipped a beat. I could see movement through the trees, making its way down the long driveway. I glanced out the window at Maggie and Glenn who were looking around furiously, they heard it too.

"Dammit." I whispered, getting low to the ground. I could see three vehicles making their way towards the prison. One of them was open, carrying a multitude of troops, which I assumed filled the other two as well. I eyed my sniper rifle, shuffling across the floor for it.

A loud explosion rang out across the field and I glanced up. The first guard tower was smoking, pieces of smoldering rubble falling to the ground. The rest of the men opened fire on the surrounding walkers, killing them easily. I looked down at the open truck, Martinez held in his hand a grenade launcher, and he aimed it at the guard tower across the field, blowing that one up at well.

I hit the dirt, my body shaking. We hadn't expected them to come with a grenade launcher, nothing that could do physical damage to the structure of the prison. My radio crackled loudly next to me and I grabbed it up.

"What the fuck was that? Beau?! Are you okay?!" It was Daryl, he had heard the explosions.

"I'm fine." I breathed shakily. "Holy shit! They have a grenade launcher!" I whisper screamed into the walkie-talkie. I could hear crunching on the gravel underneath me and I held my breath, slowly switching my two way to the off position.

They marched silently past me, but not without purpose. I snuck a peek, there were at least thirty of them, or more, all heavily armed. A few took point into the prison yard, but most stayed behind the heavily armored truck they brought. It looked military grade, which made me wonder how exactly they got their hands on it.

The Governor signaled towards the prison doors with his head, and his lackeys followed. I glanced down to where Maggie and Glenn were taking cover. They hadn't been found yet, but they looked terrified. My heart stopped as people walked passed their hideaways.

A few men attached the assault jeep's wench to the caged door that led into the cellblock. I prayed that Hershel, Beth, Carl and Judith had gotten out. It didn't take long for them to break it open, pulling the door from its hinges loudly. Slowly they filled in and I watched in satisfaction as every single one of them followed their fearless leader. I couldn't believe it, our plan was working.

Reached over for my radio, turning it back on. It immediately came to life.

"Beau! I swear to god!"

"I'm fine I'm fine! They're inside the cellblock. We're moving to phase two." I paused, looking down at Maggie and signaling for them to stand. They obliged, getting into position. "And Daryl?"

"Yeh?"

"I love you." I said finally. I paused for a moment.

"I love you." He said finally. I could sense the smile in his voice and I grinned, turning off my radio and grabbing up my Assault Rifle.

We waited for what felt like forever until I could hear the sirens blaring inside of the prison. I looked down at Maggie and Glenn again, both of them tensed, ready to go.

The cellblock door slammed open and the hysteric intruders ran from the door, nearly trampling each other. Glenn stood, shouting at them, before he opened fire. I followed his lead, along with Maggie, and I too began to shoot at the unsuspecting soldiers.

I could hear them screaming, but it did nothing to me. I was angry and done. This was my home, they needed to leave. I downed a few of them, making sure to shoot them through the head. the last thing we needed was them reanimating.

The Woodburian's scattered, going in all directions. The governor was still by the door, taking cover, and I fired a few shots, missing him but hitting one of his men. I ducked as one of his guards fired back at me. I took this time to reload, dumping the almost spent clip on the floor.

I paused for a few seconds before returning to my knees. The Governor had disappeared, but I could see him and what remained of their group running back to the trucks they came in on. I left the remaining assailants in the yard for Glenn and Maggie to deal with, turning my attentions towards the Governors truck.

I missed, watching him climb into the front seat of the truck, firing a few more rounds. He was gone, I couldn't catch him, but those that didn't make it into a vehicle were fair game. I put round after round into them while the Governor and another truck drove off.

The movement had stopped in the yard and I paused, watching with narrowed eyes.

"We did it?!" Maggie called out, more of a question than anything. I looked over at Maggie and then down to Glenn. Slowly he took his helmet off.

"We did it!" he confirmed with a big grin. Glenn looked up at me, waving his hand. "Come on down!" I nodded at him, quickly descending the stairs and throwing open the door.

"Mission successful, officer." I said into my two-way with a smile.

"That's what I'm talking about girl!" Daryl shouted over the two way, excited and relieved. I grinned from ear to ear as I met with Glenn and Maggie.

"Come on up, they split." I said quietly, giving Maggie a high-five.

"Roger that." Rick chuckled, obviously taking the radio from Daryl.

Daryl met me up front with a big hug and an even bigger kiss. He grinned wildly at me, his eyes proud. Rick, Carol and Michonne followed him, seeming to be equally as excited.

"You save any for Maggie and Glenn?" Daryl asked as he surveyed the surrounding area.

"I would say we split it 30/30/40." I teased.

"Who had the 40?" Daryl asked me with a raised brow. I grinned at him cheekily.

"Do you really have to ask?"

"Me, the answer is me." Glenn chuckled. I shook my head, going to open my mouth when Rick spoke.

"We did it, we drove them out." He turned to us proudly.

"We should go after them." Michonne said suddenly.

"We should finish it." Daryl agree, turning to me. I watched him curiously, my eyes flickering from the gate, where they ran, and back to him.

"We did finish it? Didn't you see how they high tailed it outta here?" Maggie piped up, pointing to the gate. As much as I wanted to believe that it was over, I felt deep down, that it wasn't. I shook my head, sniffing.

"They're gonna regroup. We can't take the chance, he's not gonna stop." I sighed, frowning up at Daryl. He bit his lip nervously, pulling me into his side.

"We take the fight back to Woodbury? We barely made it back last time!" Maggie offered.

"We weren't at full force and Glenn was injured." I reasoned, gesturing to Glenn. Rick nodded, he agreed.

"Lets check on the others." The sheriff said, walking off towards the Cellblock door.

Beth, Herschel and Carl had been sent off into the woods with a getaway car and Judith. They returned unharmed, but I could hear yelling back in the common area of the cell block. I shook it off, as Daryl threw an ammo bag on the floor next to me.

I bent over, reaching down into the bag. I stocked myself with as much ammo I could, getting prepared for the fight ahead. I shivered, looking up at Daryl as he watched me.

"I'm not staying here." I said finally. It seemed like we got into this argument a lot, and I knew it was because he cared about me, but I didn't care. I was going with them.

"I know, I wasn't gonna ask ya to." He replied. I narrowed my eyes at him, confused.

"Then why are you staring at me?" I asked, pulling away from the duffle bag. Daryl bent over quietly, zipping up the duffle bag and shouldering it. He shrugged at me, leaning smugly against the wall.

"I can't admire my woman?" he asked non-chalant. I chuckled, turning to rejoin the group. Daryl grabbed my elbow firmly, stopping me in my tracks. I glanced up at him quietly. "You're all I got left in this world Darlin, what with Merle and everythin."

"Daryl-" I began, but he interrupted me with a sharp shh. He reached into his pocket, pulling out something that I wasn't sure I recognized. It took a minute for it to set in, but in his rough, calloused hand, sat two dull silver bands.

"Woodbury's gonna be dangerous'n if we don't make it, I want to at least die knowin I spent the last few hours with you as my wife." For the first time since he pulled out the rings Daryl looked up at me. My breath hitched in my throat and my heart began to flutter.

"What are you doing?" I breathed. I heard what he said, but it wasn't registering in my mind as right. My eyes darted between his face and the rings.

"I'm trying to make an honest woman out of ya." He paused, Taking the bigger band, the one meant for him, and placing it on his finger. Daryl studied it before smiling, deciding he liked it there. "We don't have to make it a big thing, if ya want we don't have ta tell anyone, but just because the worlds ended doesn't mean commitment died with it." His hand drifted from my elbow to my hand. He took it gently, but firmly, holding the ring out in front of my finger tauntingly.

I watched him quietly for a moment, allowing time for my pulse to slow. I studied him, his face, his eyes, his posture. He seemed genuine, and I never expected anything like this from him. He didn't seem like the marrying type.

I realized then that I loved this man. Deeply and with everything I had, and without him I'd be lost. I had been quiet for too long and I could feel his hand pulling away from mine. I grabbed it, squeezing it tightly, not wanting him to let go.

"I do…" I whispered. Daryl's face lightened up, his frown immediately replaced with a smile. He took me in his arms, hugging me tightly, his lips crashing into mine.

Rick cleared his throat behind us and we pulled apart, turning to him. The sheriff tried to stifle a smile, but he couldn't.

"Michonne and I are heading to Woodbury." He said through a cautious grin. "You should make sure you're ready.

Sorry for the long wait guys! My family was in town for the fourth of July so i've been doing stuff with them :( don't hate me! I feel like I definitely made up for ti this chapter :D

Reviews are awesome! Keep it up! PLease let me know what you thought about this chapter. the end is probably one of my favorite Daryl/Beau scenes.

Stay beautiful!