AN: Set after the golf club scene where they find the cabin. Beth and Daryl's friendship and eventual relationship, starting from Season 4 until the end. No kidnapping, no deaths, just Bethyl forever. First Fic from TWD series as I've just started watching it and fell in love with these characters. Will not contain Beth's death. Happy reading Bethyl Shippers x
.
.
.
.
Two weeks.
It had been two weeks since the prison was taken. Two weeks of her and Darryl together on the run, with nothing but the clothes on their back.
Beth only had her knife, he had his bow, and that was it. She couldn't believe they had made it this far. They ran for lives that first day, never stopping, never looking back.
Now that they were alone together, he was her protector. She felt guilty about that and wanted to say thank you for getting her out, but it felt silly. Someone like him certainly wouldn't understand her emotions, not now anyway.
Her father had been murdered right in front of her, and she couldn't get the image out of her mind. She felt so out of touch with her surroundings now. Numb and broken, but mostly in shock. She thought she had gotten used to this feeling, being out in the open so much before they found the prison, but after living there for so long, the fear and adrenaline that was cursing through her veins and making her heart race, felt a little too foreign for her liking.
She hated that.
Hated that she had gotten so comfortable there. Hated herself for thinking this was it. They would live there forever, and they were all going to be safe until they'd find a cure, and then live happily ever after.
Beth shook her head, looking at the trees around her as she sat on a fallen log. Daryl was somewhere behind her, watching out for Walkers as she caught her breath. They were making their way back from the golf club they had stumbled upon a few hours ago, where she unsuccessfully found her first drink.
Peach schnapps.
Well, now she'd never know what that tasted like, she thought bitterly.
After a few miles of walking, they had taken a break. She was falling over her feet every second step, dehydrated and fatigued and begged Daryl to let her rest. They could only stop for a bit before they would continue on, that was the rules. Now, as usual, her mind was rambling on again and her eyes felt the tickle of moisture filling them, her throat tight. Maybe she had become depressed again, she wondered absently. It wouldn't surprise her. The world had gone to shit, this could be her last day on earth before she would be decapitated by a flesh eating zombie, they were all alone, and her dad was... dead...
Beth shook her head again, her face crumbling as she wiped the tears away from her cheeks. Here it came, the tears, the guilt, the anger.
She was spent.
Maggie had left with Glen on the bus, she understood that, but now it kind of stung. Did Maggie even look for her? She never saw where the others went, the two little girls, Mischonne…
She could still hear the screams ringing in her ears, the sound of gunfire and the taste of smoke in her mouth. Beth was looking for Judith before Daryl found her, but then it was too late to circle back.
"We gotta go Beth." He had stated simply, "We gotta go."
Judith…
The tiny blonde choked on a sob, and brought a hand to her throat, staring miserably at the muddy ground beneath her worn out combat boots. She loved that little girl so much, it felt like her heart had grown 7 times its size once she was born. She had found the car seat, covered in blood and guts, but she wasn't in it. Beth knew she didn't have time to go back, there were Walkers everywhere and she could barely see who she was shooting at. But still, maybe she should have? Maybe she should have tried harder? Did she try her hardest? It all happened so fast.
Beth groaned, putting her aching head in her hands. She was cranky, tired, hungry, thirsty, all of the above. What were they even doing out here anyway?
They hadn't discussed any plans yet and she felt restless. Were they even going to make it? The two of them, alone like this?
She started kicking at the ground when she saw a shadow pass over her head, and quickly looked up, her bright blue eyes still glistening from crying.
He eyed her from head to toe before he spoke, and Beth was suddenly very aware that they yellow top she stole was till sticking to her skin from the dried Walker blood.
"Cmon." Daryl mumbled, standing over her with his hand outstretched.
Beth sighed, her shoulders slumping a little as she placed her tiny hand in his, letting him pull her up the rest of the way, swaying a little as she adjusted to standing.
She hadn't eaten in 2 days.
Daryl's hair was long now, but she could still see his eyes, the darkness in them staring right back at her in what she could only assume was concern. In the past, she had felt his eyes on her before she turned around and saw him staring. It happened often once they got to the prison. Then, when they were spending time alone together after Judith was born, taking care of her in between feeding times, but he would always be over protective of her whenever someone new in the group hit on her, or made her feel uncomfortable...
Still, she didn't really know what to make of him. She was less afraid with him than she would have been by herself, sure, but still wary of who he actually was.
He was a man of only a few words, Merle's brother also, but his thoughts were loud, louder than anyone she had ever met.
"Be dark soon." He said simply, his voice in that usual husky drawl. He let go of her hand and patted her lightly on the arm, "Should keep moving."
Without another word, he turned and headed south.
Beth just stared at the back of his head, watching him for a moment before trudging begrudgingly behind him.
She didn't know where they were going, or how long they would be walking, but she trusted Daryls knowledge of this part of the country, and always let him lead. He was a good tracker and hunter, and was pretty much silent on his feet as they walked. She had learnt a lot from him in their short time together and she was grateful.
The lazy part of her however, just wanted to collapse and sleep for twelve hours. Her head ached, her tummy constantly rumbled, and she knew she would snap sooner rather than later.
"We should find a creek." She suggested suddenly. A rinse from the grime and dirt from the past few days would be nice, she thought longingly.
Daryl just grunted in reply, looking around as he walked, crossbow at the ready. "Be dark soon." He repeated flatly, not looking at her. "Creek is too far away anyways, theres a road up ahead. We'll find a place there."
They both shoved fallen tree branches to the side as they continued on, heading through some denser parts of the forest as they climbed down the slope of the bush.
And that was it for the next hour. Which gave Beth more time and silence to think...
.
.
.
"Motorcycle mechanic." She blurted out, lost in her thoughts. She couldn't take the silence anymore. It was also past midday and they had been walking for hours again, she needed another rest.
At least they hadn't come across any Walkers though, it was a miracle.
"Huh?" Daryl replied, looking sideways at her, confused.
"That's my guess," she replied. "For what you were doin before the turn. Did Zack ever guess that one?"
The man next to her grunted again before he spoke. "It don't matter. Not anymore, not for a long time."
She could tell he was distracted as they walked, so she matched his stride, trying to catch his gaze. "It's just, what people talked about. You know. To feel normal."
Daryl looked around, on edge with trying to make sure the next few hundred yards in front of them were safe as they kept walking.
"Yeah well, it never felt normal to me." He mumbled frustratedly in reply.
Beth gave up on trying to make small talk again. It was obvious Daryl wasn't very good at it.
They finally found a road up ahead he seamed to recognise, still lush with greenery on each side, stretching out. They got to a crossroads at the end of the bend, and found another barren street. Just a shop and a car that had obviously been set on fire. They walked down the road into another street on their left, and found a cabin, half hidden by big fallen trees and a collapsed fence.
"Found this place with Mischonne." Daryl stated simply.
Beth frowned, looking around. "I was expecting a liquor store." She reminded, still not over the fact she hadn't had that drink she was craving.
"Nah, this is better." he assured.
Once again, she was surprised at how he managed to get them out of harms way so effortlessly.
It was like Darryl was made for this world, and not the one they were forced to leave behind.
As they came closer, it looked like the cabin was safe enough to stay in for a few days at least, Beth thought excitedly, the aches and pains in her body singing out in response.
It had a door, a shed, and even though the windows were a bit broken, it still looked secure enough to hunker down in, even if it were winter tomorrow.
Honestly, it was a dump, but she was so tired she really didn't care.
The two both wandered through the living room and kitchen, apprehensively at first, until Darryl turned and walked into a room to the side of front door. Returning proudly with a tray of haphazardly filled glass jars.
"What's that?" Beth asked, unimpressed.
"Moonshine."
.
.
.
.