Once Upon A Bethyl

Sorry Brother.

Daryl's POV://

All I hear is the door slam and Hershel's booming voice.

"Daryl. Barn. Now." He said heading toward the barn door leaving it open for me.
Oh shit.

I give Rick and Carl a confused look and shrug my shoulders, as I nervously walked toward the barn, and to a very angry Hershel. Why is he so pissed?

"So?" He says handing me a beer. I reluctantly take it, because before all this started, I used to get drunk. A lot. It got so bad that I was beating people half to death. Luckily Merle was the sensible one in those types of situations. And I don't want to end up like that again. Especially now I have Beth, I don't want to hurt her, or the rest of the group for that matter.

"Don't drink a lot?" He says setting his beer down.

"Used to be quite a heavy drinker, not like that anymore." I instantly regret saying that. If he wants to talk to me about Beth, who wants their daughter with an alcoholic? But I'm not like that anymore.

"Ah." Hershel says taking the beer from my hands.

"Beth told me."

"Uh. Okay."

"I have to say though. I know you're a good person Daryl. And you can protect her from that world out there. I trust you with my daughter's life, and my life for that matter."

My heart is elated and my mouth is dry.

"Thank you so much Sir. I really appreciate that." We smile but then his fades.

"But. If you hurt her... I'll kill you."

I know he's only joking but I can't help but feel a bit worried by his comment.

As I head toward the house Beth comes rushing out and charging toward me. She wraps her arms around my waist, turning a few of the group's heads.

"Hey, what's up?" I ask a little taken back.

"I missed you." She says looking up at me with those irresistible blue eyes.

"Haha. We've only been apart for half an hour."

"I know still missed you."

"Hey Daryl? Wanna go on look out for a while? Gotta go find Andrea!" Dale shouts from the top of the RV parked outside the farm house.

Out of the whole group I have to say I kinda like Dale. He says what he thinks and its usually the right decision.

"Sure!" I tell back at him, and then turn back to Beth who has a pout on her lips.

"Don't worry I'll only be up there for a little while." I kiss the top of her head and head towards the RV, and I don't even have to look at Beth to tell she's blushing.

After about an hour on watch I start to get a little worried about Dale, and tell Glenn to take over. I quickly let Beth know where I'm going and head into the woods with my loaded crossbow.

It doesn't take long for me to encounter a few walkers, and I take them out. I'm used to it now, not that I enjoy doing it, but you've gotta do what you've gotta do to survive.

Then I see it. Dale's hat laying on the floor with a hand slouched next to it.

"Oh no. No, no, no! Dale! Oh shit!"

His face is pale and his insides have been ripped out. Maybe the bastard that was eating him 

got occupied by something else.

I wave my hands at Glenn, signalling him to come over. His reaction is the same as mine. The group start coming over in twos. Beth, Hershel and Maggie being the last ones.

Beth covers her mouth with her hand, and snuggles into my side. I take my gun out of my holster and hold it to the poor man's head.

"Sorry Brother."

AN///

NO DALE :(

Sorry it took so long to update. Enjoy!