•Alexandra Safe Zone, 9 months later •
Hope had learned to walk when she'd first fallen over and started crying loudly. Beth held her daughter in her arms brushing the dirt from her clothes, she cuddled her into her side cooing at her. Judith came running past and Carl chasing after her. Beth smiled bouncing Hope before placing her on the floor. Beth had placed a blanket over the wooden flooring so Hope wouldn't hurt herself too badly if she fell. She stood her up steadying her before sitting back a bit extending her arms for Hope to walk into when she saw Daryl walking past Rick who nodded at him. Hope took a step forward, then another before falling into Beth's arms. Beth congratulated her peppering kisses all over her face smiling at Daryl who ruffled his daughter's hair before placing his cross-bow on the porch.
"How are the fences?" Beth asked. Hope attempted to walk to Daryl and Daryl scooped her up throwing her in the air, which made her erupt into a fit of giggles as Beth watched them.
"They're holding up alrigh'," Daryl said lifting his daughter up before inspecting her for cuts and bruises. There was one scrape on her knee, but apart from the she was fine. Daryl held her on his hip, extending a hand to help Beth up. Beth smiled taking a gurgling Hope away from Daryl heading inside the house. She placed Hope inside the play pen supplementing her with wrecked Timmy The Turtle stuffed toy which she happily chewed on. Beth ran a hand through her messy hair staring at Hope, without sparing another thought she picked up her knife and placed it in her sheath. She headed towards Daryl wrapping her arms around his neck and connecting their two lips together. They moved in sync sending fiery waves of passion through each other, Daryl's hands snaked their way to behind her back pulling her closer to him. Beth's slender figures pressed into the knot in Daryl's neck as she let go.
"I love you," Daryl said moving back from her. She stood looking at Hope then back at him
"As I love you, Daryl Dixon," she whispered to him kissing him passionately before heading to the door. She stepped outside onto the drying tarmac road and soaked in the sunshine. It wouldn't be warm for much longer so she took advantage. She walked down the rows of bleached houses. Hardly anyone was outside which left Beth puzzled. Beth's boots clicked against the floor when a girly scream echoed through the air. Beth's feet picked up rushing to the scream when she saw a woman laying on the floor, knocked unconscious.
"Help her!" The woman screamed as Beth felt for a pulse in her neck, it was there but slightly fast. Beth grunted lifting the body of the woman off the floor and resting her head into her lap, she wiped the sweat from her brow then focused back on the woman. Her skin was pale, it looked like her veins were drawn on with light blue sharpie and she was thin, incredibly thin.
"Go get some water, we need to get her inside." Beth's arms were strong but not strong enough, she grunted pulling the body into her arms slowly approaching the house. The other woman opened the door as Beth placed her inside. The woman was starting to come around, Beth took the water and pressed the bottle to the woman's lips. She greedily drank it, before attempting to shuffle back.
"What's your name?" Beth asked.
"Alanna." Beth nodded.
"Well Alanna, I believe that you have heat stroke, I'm not a doctor nor nothin' but I'm guessing. You should go check it out." The other woman thanked Beth profusely before Beth went back to her daughter and Daryl.
Daryl was laying on the floor with Hope laying on his chest, he was doing sit ups with Hope giggling every time he sat up. Beth watched from the door way as Hope giggled whacking her small fists against his chest. Beth's smile reached her ears as Hope reached her chubby fists towards her. Beth grasped her daughter huddling her close to her.
"I guess it's time for you to go to bed," Beth said quietly as Hope sucked on her thumb innocently. Beth put Hope in the make-shift crib and tucked her in a blanket. "Sweet dreams Hope," Beth said kissing her forehead and blowing out the lemon scented candle.
Gun fire sounded quickly making Hope cry out and Beth reached for her covering her in the blanket, ensuring her blonde whips of hair reminded tucked in the blanket as Beth bounced her back and forth looking out of the window, her hand gently patting Hope's back to ensure she went back to sleep on Beth. Daryl rushed up the stairs handing a rucksack full of cans.
"Can't they control them? I thought it was safe?" Beth's voice was thick with tears. She looked at Hope's closed eyes just wishing that this had been a home for her, a beautiful place for her to grow up in, fall in love in. Quickly, Beth placed Hope back in the crib. Pulling the shoulder bag from inside the cupboard, Beth grasped necessary objects - diapers, clean clothes, formula, baby food, wipes, and the wrecked Timmy The Turtle toy. Daryl was standing outside fending off walkers with a machine gun. Beth grabbed the backpack left by the door filled with various foods and slung the shoulder bag over her shoulder. Beth hauled Hope into her arms, securing the dusty pink blanket around her daughter before taking the stairs one at a time. Beth grabbed the blanket from the back of the sofa before dashing to the door. She handed Daryl the rucksack as she threw the blanket over Hope in attempts to cover her from the scent of smoke. She ran following Daryl to the land rover. She threw herself into the back seat chucking the bags into the trunk. Rick, Carl, Judith and Michonne jumped in as they sped away from the place they called their home Beth's heart breaking the further they got away. Hope's quiet breathing was the only thing keeping her sane.
"Where do we head now?" Daryl asked.
"North, see if we can find anything there," Rick answered. Beth rubbed Hope's back feeling the cold from her arms she took off her jacket wrapping it around her followed by the other blanket. Judith's hands were reaching for Carl's hat as she flung it onto her head letting out a squeal of delight. Daryl met Beth's eyes in the rear view mirror and Beth smiled softly before looking back out onto the darkened night, praying for safety again.