Daryl's Broken Wings

Chapter 1:

Waking up in the guest room of Rick's house, Daryl feels a sting in his chest- and not from his run in with a criminal late last night. No Daryl's chest hurts from his heart being snapped in half. Then again, he knows he deserves this pain. That's been his life, pain. His father and uncle's abuse set him up for the shittiest outcome, that was until he met Beth Greene- the blue eyes beauty with a smile that could tear down walls. His Beth. Well his Beth until he fucked up. This morning isn't going to go the way he wants it too, but he's ready to see her and expects nothing less than a slap across the face- though Beth wouldn't ever assault him, let alone anyone. Nope, she's too caring for that- for her own good sometimes. Rolling onto his side, he checks his phone- his background is a picture of Beth holding Kylie and both smiling so wide and beautifully. No messages from her- anyone actually. Rolling back onto his back, he stares at the ceiling and sighs. If Merle was here, he wouldn't smacked Daryl out of this shitty funk. No way would he let Daryl lay here like a damn dog. But then again his brother cheated with Michone. He used Carol just the same as he had. Look where he ended up. Shaking his head, he wonders if a dirt nap is the only way to solve everything.

"Daryl?" Carl shyly asks from outside the door. "You up?"

"Yeah kid, come on in." He peacefully says, though he'd rather be alone right now. Carl enters with a small smile and sits on the window seat, holding Judith.

"Can we go to the zoo today? I need a distraction and Dad is busy working." Ever since Sophia died, Daryl and Rick had been noticing Carl slip farther and farther into a depression. Sitting up, Daryl pulls on his jeans from beside his bed and starts looking for a shirt.

"Sure buddy. I haven't been there yet. Go get ready and Judy too. I'll be down in a few seconds." The kid- who's really not a kid any more but a young man- smiles and quickens his pace out to his bedroom. Shaking his head, Daryl tugs on a white tee shirt and his vest and heads downstairs after slipping his boots on. When he grabs his keys, he turns and meets eyes with Carl in his Dad's sheriff's hat and Judy in her sun bonnet. "Let's go."

On their way to the Atlanta zoo, Daryl notices a moving truck beside him. He can't imagine why anyone would want to live in a close tiny city apartment with no grass close by and busy streets filled with lunatics. Living in Beth's apartment was one thing- there was a park right across the street, but the city has nothing as suitable close by. Shaking his head they continue into the city and downtown to the zoo. His mind though is else where- with her.

Beth had packed in under an hour, leaving some of the unnecessary things with Maggie. She can't think about how hard it is moving, but she knows she'll be fine. The only reason she could move so fast is that her friend Jackie allowed her to move in until she's ready to figure out her next move. She's always liked Jacqui. Way back when the world was still prejudice (more than it is) Beth's grandfather Isaiah owned the farm and was mayor. He had black servants and farmhands to spare. He was one of the better employers at the time, but was still a prejudice against other races. Jackie's mother was a cook and Hershel grew up with Jacqui. When Isaiah passed away and Hershel took over the farm, he dismissed the hands and the servants- allowing them to live the lives they wanted. Jacqui and Hershel remained close, and she even looked after the girls for a bit while Annette passed away.

Driving to Atlanta, Beth just focuses on the road and wonders what's in store for her in Atlanta. It's an open book, that now will have pages filled in.