Daryl was tensed the whole time on the run. He couldn't relax for even one second. At least he hadn't any nightmares, which surprised him. But he could never sleep more than three hours, so maybe that was the reason.
But the run was really worth it. They got everything they were looking for and even more. No one was hurt, nothing bad had happened and they were already driving back to their camp. They were gone for almost four days and Daryl hoped so much, that everything was okay with Rose and Beth. And he also couldn't wait to see their happy faces, when he will give them the things he had found for them.
But the happy faces, he was dreaming about, were nothing in contrast to when Daryl finally came back to his two girls. Rose ran in his direction with opened arms and Daryl ran against her and picked her up with a big momentum. Daryl kissed Rose's tiny face, till she began to giggle. "I have missed you little girl." Daryl said to her between kisses. "I have missed you too daddy."
When Daryl let his little daughter on the ground again, he could see Beth standing next to a tree. Watching the two of them, with a proud smile in her face. She started to go into Daryl's direction, but he was faster and reached her side in seconds. "Hey my hero." Beth welcomed Daryl and gave him a long, soft kiss. "Everything okay?" He asked her, while he was looking her deep in the eyes. "Now it is." Beth answered and Daryl just had to smile down at her.
After Glenn, Abraham and Daryl had unloaded the things they had found on their run, Daryl gave Rose and Beth the things he had only found for them. Enough clothes for both of them, because it will get colder soon and Daryl had to keep his girls warm. The only thing he still worried about was, that maybe they won't fit them. Daryl had found a little soft bear for Rose, which she already had in her arms and some other toys, at which the little girl was looking with big eyes and a happy smile.
Thankfully they had also found enough food for the next weeks and in one house they had even found some chocolate. They carve up the chocolate and everyone became a piece. Daryl saved his one and wanted to give it to Rose, but she was still sitting there with her first piece and was looking at it, like she wanted to examine it. Almost everyone had already eaten their piece of chocolate, but Rose was still just looking at hers. Then Daryl got it. His little girl had never eaten chocolate before.
Daryl went to Rose's side and lowered himself next to her on the tree trunk. "That's chocolate sweetheart. You will like it. It's sweet." Daryl stroked Rose's little head. With his okay she tried a small bite and her eyes widened and she told Daryl that she loved it. He gave his daughter also his piece, because he didn't really want it and he just loved it to see Rose smiling.
When Daryl was looking up from his daughter, he could see Beth standing a few feet away from them. She had watched them the whole time and Daryl could tell, that the look in her face meant, that she was proud of him, because Daryl really tried to be a good father.
Later the three of them went to the river to wash themself and get into the new clothes Daryl had found on the run. While Beth cleaned Rose, Daryl washed himself quickly and got into his new clothes. Beth was already starting to get Rose in her new clothes, when Daryl told Beth that he will do it, so she could clean herself. Daryl showed Beth his back, when she began to undress herself, because Daryl still didn't know, if Beth wanted him to see her and her unconvered body, so he gave Beth her privacy.
Thank God the clothes Daryl had found for Rose fitted her and even the clothes for Beth were perfect. But there was still one thing left, he had found on the run. Daryl quickly went to his old trousers and took it out from the pocket. Beth was currently picking up her and Rose's old clothes, when Daryl got next to her side. "I will take them." Daryl simply said and took the clothes out of Beth's arms into his, but before he went back to Rose, he quickly placed the silver ring, with the little sparkling stone on it, into Beth's hand. Daryl had never given a gift to a girl before. He did't know how he should do it or what he should say, when he would give it to Beth, so he just made it this way.
"Come on baby girl, we are going back to the other." Daryl said to Rose and took her tiny hand in his bigger. It didn't take long till Beth came to his side and she quickly gave him a warm kiss on his cheek. "Thank you my hero. I really love it." she whispered and Daryl could feel the ring on Beth's finger. when she wrapped her arm around his.
As good as Daryl had slept the last weeks, as worse he was sleeping this night. But maybe this all wasn't a nightmare. Maybe this was all real.
The men, who had kidnapped Beth, were back and they came to their camp to take revenge. Three men were holding Daryl back, when he wanted to run to Beth and Rose. "We could kill you now, but we have a better idea. We will take everything you love and you will watch it." Daryl tried to get free and hit one of the man on his leg, but they were just holding him stronger then and another man hit Daryl in his stomach and beat him in his face. Daryl could taste blood, but he didn't care. All he wanted, was that his girls were save. But it was too late.
He could hear Beth screaming, when one of the men pushed her out of their tent and another man took Rose out, she was already crying. "NO! Let them go! Don't hurt them!" Daryl yelled. They shoved Beth a few feet away from Daryl, but he still couldn't reach her. Daryl wanted to get to Beth, to take her in his arms and tell her, that everything will be good and he will save her, but all he could do was trying to get free, but he failed.
Daryl and Beth were looking at each other, she already had tears in her eyes. Then they could hear Rose screaming and Daryl was looking over to her. "Shut up! Every one near can hear us!" The man, who was holding Rose, yelled at her. "Don't hurt her! Take me and let them go!" Daryl begged helpless. But the men were just laughing and Rose was still crying badly. "Rose, please listen to me sweetheart. Everything will be good, but you have to stop crying. Rose, please!" Daryl tried to speak reassuring into his daughter's direction, but she couldn't her him, because of her own screams.
"Shut up stupid girl!" The man yelled again at Rose. But she still didn't listen and finally the man fling her on the ground and kicked her with his feet. "NO!" Daryl and Beth both screamed and Daryl tried again to get free, but someone punched him in his stomach again and Daryl spat some blood. Rose was just laying on the ground, unconscious.
Daryl could feel his anger growing up inside him, but then he heard Beth screaming as one of the men wanted to go to Rose. "Shsh, sweetheart. We don't want to do the same to you. We have a better idea what we could do with you." One man said with a stupid smile. He gripped Beth on her uncles and turned her on her back. Daryl already knew, what they wanted to do to her and he tried again to get himself free. "No, please don't! Please!" Daryl begged. But of course it didn't help.
The man already put off her jeans and one time Beth kicked him between his feet, but he just hit her in the face and turned her around so her cheek was pressed on the ground. "Beth. Beth, look at me." Daryl said to her with a shaking voice. Beth lifted her head, so she was looking at him and it broke Daryl's heart. He couldn't do anything. He just had to watch, while this monster was rapping his girl. The tears were running down her cheeks, while the man was doing this to her, but Beth was never looking away from Daryl. "I'm sorry." Daryl whispered to Beth. Then she closed her eyes and Daryl heard her saying his name, but Beth's mouth was still closed like her eyes.
"Daryl, wake up. Daryl." He quickly opened his eyes, but he couldn't see much because everything was blurred, but he could feel someones hand on his shoulders. It was her hand. Beth. "It was just a dream Daryl. Every thing is ok. Daryl?" He was sweating on his whole body and trembling. He felt sick, damn sick. Daryl had to go out of the tent. He tried to stand up, but he failed. Daryl could feel Beth's hands again on his body, while she tried to help him getting up. Daryl staggered a few feet away from their tent and finally he fell on his knees and vomited. He could feel how the tears were pouring out of his eyes.
Beth was by his side in seconds and held him, while he was spitting everything out. When nothing was left in his stomach, Beth put her left hand around Daryl's back and the other hand was stroking his right arm. Daryl didn't have any power left, so he just rested his head against her shoulder. Beth gently stroked and kissed his head the whole time. "It was just a dream Daryl." Beth repeated.
Her words brought Daryl finally back to life and he wrapped his arms around her waist and cried into her neck. "They had hurt Rose, they had hurt you." Daryl told Beth between sobs. "Shsh, Daryl. It was just a dream, everything is okay. No one hurt Rose or me. We are safe, you are safe too baby."
While they were sitting like that Daryl noticed, that it was still dark, but obviously Beth didn't care. She was sitting with him there on the ground and whispered into his ear, that she was here and won't ever leave his side. Daryl was never so glad to have her by his side.
"I need you Beth. I need you so much. I really can't live without you any more." Daryl said to her, his hands were still shaking. "I know, I can't live without you any more too Daryl. But we don't have too. I'm here, you are here. We are a family now. Maggie told me, what you have been through, while I was gone and I promise you that you never ever have to worry about anything any more baby. I promise you tha.! I love you." "I love you too." Daryl said, still wrapped protecting in Beth's arms.