From the overwhelming support and feedback, I decided to write up the second chapter. Guys, I seriously can't express how betrayed I feel about Beth's death. Yes, at some point, I knew she was going to die. But … by an accident like that? Seriously?! She had a great storyline going, and the writers ruined it. I will continue to live my dream of Bethyl in here.

There is a lot of Beth-death celebration outside this fandom. Many of Caryler fans are saying "Finally, about time!" or "Beth deserved it, she's a moron for doing that" sort of thing. It's truly annoying.

So, be strong, Bethylers. We can make it through this!

I edited the first chapter (prologue) quite a bit. If you haven't checked the edited version yet, please do!

I have no idea where I'm going with this since it was a sporadic, split second decision to write this. So please bear with me! I'm going to be as realistic as I can here… so there might be possibility of a love triangle? Or Square? Maybe.

Thank you for reading, Bethyl ON!

*RANT (Skip if you think you may be offended)*
- First of all, to me, even if Beth dies, Carol and Daryl does not have the ability to get together contrary to what a lot of Beth-haters believe. Just because she's dead, it doesn't mean Daryl will find romance in Carol. If at all. I AM a Carol fan too, but I hate the animosity between Carylers and Bethylers. I have a strong inkling that the writers of TWD killed Beth off because of the Shipping wars. They don't want to deal with the hassle no more. Development wise, Carol had more impact than Beth did. But that doesn't mean Beth didn't progress at all. In fact, Beth had become a strong person. Strong enough to survive on her own against the Rotters/Walkers. Her death… in that fashion was absolutely unjust. I believe it was brought on by the shipping wars… truly. Had the Carylers and Bethylers made peace early on… well… maybe Beth's death could've been avoided. / End Rant.

Redemption
[Aftermath]

~~ Of all the money that e'er I had
I've spent it in good company
And all the harm that e'er I've done
Alas it was to none but me ~~

"Daryl, stop!" He heard them call his name in concern, pleading with him that it wasn't worth it. That killing an innocent wasn't worth it.

Worth what? It wasn't worth bathing the tacky linoleum floors with these bastards' blood after all that they've done to his group—his family? They were all that he had left. And for the past day, rescuing Beth and Carol was the sole reason that kept him going on in this world. This fucking ridiculous world was filled with asshats and fuckers—pigs in fucking uniforms.

He had one of these cops pinned to the ground by his neck. Fuck if he cares to remember his name. His family got hurt and this fucker beneath him blamed Beth for the slaughter.

Sure it ain't Beth's brightest idea in the whole fucking world in that rainbows and butterflies head of hers to stab Dawn. But damn, he knew she was trying to make a last ditch effort to save the kid. And now, five lay injured in this condemned, backwards hospital of theirs.

Beth, Sasha and three of theirs. All of them, except Beth suffered a bullet wound or a few scratches. But Beth… Beth…

The thought of her limp body surged his anger, tightening his grip on the man's neck. She was fighting for her life in the operating room this very moment. And this faggot had the balls to blame her.

"Don't you fuckin' talk about her like you know her, yeah?" Daryl hissed. The cop sank his nails into Daryl's hands at the base of his neck. It didn't faze him though. No, not when he felt nothing but blood-spitting anger. He lowered his head until he was a breath's away from the cop's. Through clenched jaws, he growled at him. "You better fuckin' believe my family recovers. Or you and your sorry-ass team of pigs will find a bullet in your heads."

"That's enough, Daryl. That's enough," a firm pat drew Daryl away from his state of anger, and closer towards sanity.

He allowed Rick to pull him up with a yank of his angel-wings vest. The cop coughed and gagged as he hungrily gasped for air to refill his lungs.

"It ain't worth it. As much as I—we," Rick pulled Daryl closer to him, foreheads nearly touching. His eyes pierced Daryl's, holding his gaze prisoner. "We need them to save Beth. As much as I want to fucking kill all of them with you, we both know it ain't gonna be a good idea. Just walk away Daryl."

Daryl had nothing to say to him. His nostrils flared with every breath he took, biting his tongue was the only thing that kept him from spewing curses from his lips. Rick didn't deserve to hear that shit. If it weren't for him taking the third bullet for Beth, she might've possibly died in his arms. With a curt nod at Rick, Daryl turned around his heels and stalked towards the other end of the hall. He had to get away.

Away from Maggie's inconsolable bawling, away from Carol's sympathetic yet silent gaze, and away from Michonne's concerned frown.

The kid mentioned something about a garden on the rooftop. Maybe getting some rotting flesh scented fresh air will ease the turmoil storming inside of him.

~~ And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all ~~

-0-

"You alright?" Carol finally spoke up after sitting beside him for however the fuck many minutes or hours he sat here for. She had followed him to the rooftop of Grady Memorial hospital, just silently offering her comfort through her presence.

He welcomed it. At this point, he had gone too far to want to be left alone. He has a truly family now—Rick, Carol, Michonne, Glen… Beth. They had just lost Bob and now, the chances of losing Beth was greater than not.

"I should'a held her back," he rasped, his voice cracking with worry. He inhaled sharply through his nose and spat out whatever phlegm he hacked up. "If I stopped her… If I knew… She would'a been fine."

"Hey, it's not your fault Daryl," Carol's gentle arms wrapped around his shoulders from behind and laid her head against the back of his neck. "You did what you could. She caught us by surprise, that's all. She's not gone yet. She's a fighter. She's stronger now. You have to believe in her."

~~ Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They would wish me one more day to stay ~~

He choked back a sob, refusing to let his grief consume him. He pressed his cheek against Carol's hand, seeking her warm comfort. When he held Beth in his arms, he felt her go limp. When he set her down onto the surgical table, he didn't see her chest rise. When the doctor rushed him out of the room, he saw her blood drench the white sheets under her. Almost all odds are against her, would it even be possible for her to pull through?

He knew threatening the wards and the remaining officers wouldn't help the situation. At the time, he was too damn angry. He didn't know of any other way to vent his anger but by violence and cursing.

Daryl clenched his eyes shut and inhaled, allowing the mostly fresh air fill his lungs before exhaling slowly. The very act triggered a memory in him. The time before he and Beth found the funeral home, when they were still out in the open after the fall of the prison.

He had led Beth to a lake they found nearby, with a running stream of course. As usual, he didn't say much. Words were too… unnecessary for him. Too much fluff, too much lying. But with Beth and her one-sided conversations, he became accustomed of her voice. That night by the lake, she spoke a bit of her old life before the walkers. In particular, about yoga and breathing meditation. He remembered her saying exhaling longer than inhaling during a meditation can clear a person's thoughts. Would it be a good practice to try now? Because he was sure as hell not calm or clear minded at all right now.

"Daryl!" The door to the roof slammed open, the door knob cracking loudly against the concrete wall behind it.

For a minute there, he was hoping Carl was bringing good news, that Beth was alive and sleeping. The look on his face though… it said otherwise.

He didn't need to wait for an explanation. He tore himself away from Carol's warmth and raced down the stairs towards the floor his family and hospital group resided. As he barged through the doors, he saw Rick and Maggie arguing with the so called doctor.

~~ But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
Good night and joy be with you all ~~

"As much as I want to save her, we just don't have the resources to waste on her!" Dr. Edwards was backed up against the wall; his white lab coat was blotched with blood.

"Waste?! What the hell do you mean waste? She ain't gonna get better if you ain't using what you got to save her!" Maggie pulled the man by the collar of his shirt, her eyes wide and angry. It was the first time Daryl saw her like that.

Hearing her words ring in his ears, Daryl's anger returned tenfold. Drawing up his crossbow, he aimed straight at Dr. Edward's head. "Now I ain't gonna repeat myself, doc. Use all you got to save her, or a body for a body. Your choice," his voice was calm as the dead. It unnerved even himself.

"Woah, woah!" the doctor threw his hands up by the sides of his head. "I-I'm not saying I don't want to use what we have. It's just that we only have four bags of blood left. A-and that's not nearly enough compared to the amount of blood she lost. Not to mention all the injuries she sustained!"

"I don't care about that bullshit!" Maggie shook him by his collar. "Just do it! Save my sister!"

The doctor stammered. With a loaded crossbow aiming at him and a group of angry family members of Beth, the man wasn't given a choice. It was do or die.

With a sigh, the doctor nodded and removed himself from Maggie's grasps. "I'll do what I can… you may need to prepare yourselves… It'll take a miracle to save her now."

~~ Good night and joy be with you all ~~
~~ Good night and joy be with you all ~~

/

J.R. – This was more of a tribute to our beloved Beth's death in the TV Series. As much as I want to deny her death, alas it is true.

Please listen to her sweet song with Maggie "The Parting Glass." It can be found on Youtube. Both versions are beautiful. I urge you to listen and release your anger and accept your grief.