I walk past some of the stones and sit in front of Beth's.
"Hey sweetie, it's been a year here. I wish you could've made it. We are still teaching Noah everyone's names even yours. I wish you could meet him, he's a good kid. I wish we could've had kids, I would have loved that. I love you Beth Greene." I say my peace like everyday then walk back inside the big house. Everyone else is in the living room talking and laughing. I guess after everything we deserve a place like this. A place where we can be happy and together. I join my family for a while and smile until we hear a thump at the door. We become quiet as out survival instincts kick in and I motion that I will open the door. Grabbing my crossbow quietly from beside the door, I load it and swing the door open quickly. My eyes meet with shimmering blue eyes. The blue eyes. It can't be. I saw the blood drip from the bullet wound in the back of a blondes head. I drop my crossbow.
My heart catches in my throat. She is standing there. Her blonde waves billowing in the slight breeze. Her face mimicked mine. Full of surprise. But what surprises me is she isn't alone. In her arms is a small baby with my face, but Beth's eyes.
I think to myself. I saw the blood in the blonde hair! Then I remember, all I saw was the back of a blondes head. I never saw her face. The blonde that was shot was not the woman I loved, for that woman stands in front of me holding our child. Our embrace is immediate. Arms grasping at each others backs. I whisper in her ear."Beth?"
"Daryl, I love you."
-------------------
I hold her close to me and intend to never let go. I must be the luckiest person on earth to have my lover escape death. I never thought I was so lucky especially after she supposedly died. Now I know that I may be the luckiest man on earth. "I thought you were dead Beth!" I exclaim. I hear loud footsteps and Maggie comes sprinting to the door. Her arms wrap around her sister. I couldn't imagine the pain of loosing a father and a sister. Maggie really is a trooper. Just like her sister and hopefully my daughter.
"Beth!" Maggie yells desperately, finally reunited with her only blood family that is left.
"Maggie!" The two sisters stay in their hug for what seems like hours but really it's just me being impatient. I just want a wth all to myself which I know is selfish but I just can't help it. I love her more than anything I ever have. I want to run my hands over her pale skin and twist my fingers in her hair and hear her voice talk on and on.
Everyone gathers around us and thanks god that Beth is alive. They all hug her. Beth was always the nice one that everyone liked. How could you not like her, she is Beth Greene. Hmm, Beth Dixon sounds a little better to me even if I don't really like the whole idea of marriage and commitment.
Maggie glances down at the brunette baby with shimmering blue eyes.
"Oh my god! You have a baby, what's her name?" Maggie asks at a million miles per hour.
"Emilia Andrea and Maggie, Daryl and I have a baby, not just me," Beth says proudly. My heart stops. Emilia Andrea. I assume her middle name is from our Andrea. Probably in honor of her because she treated Beth as an actually adult human being when she was a bit depressed back at the farm.
My hands reach for the small child and Beth lets me take her. Everyone watches me in silence. Emilia curls in my arms and snores almost silently. She is the most beautiful thing I have seen in my entire life. He tiny chest rises and falls slowly. So calm and content. Just watching her is relaxing.
"Hi Em," I whisper. I figure any kid of mine should have a nick name. I just like the whole idea of it. Beth comes over and rubs my arm softly. Her soft pale skin feels like shin against my dry and destroyed skin. Rick smiles widely at the pair of us.
"Come on everyone lets give them a minute or two," Rick says and with the sound of his voice and the wave of his hand everyone leaves us alone. It must me funny for Rick to see someone like me holding my first born as he has done in the past with Lori. Beth begins to talk to me.
"Daryl, that day a year ago, I got caught up in the hoards of people and I fell. Everyone was so frightened that they just kept running over me. I passed out and when I woke up everyone was gone. I figured out I was pregnant pretty quickly and I hid out and gave birth in this house miles and miles from here until it got run over by a herd. Now I'm here," she explains. I look up at her sadly, guilt playing all over my face. I just left her to the crowds of frightened people.
"I thought you were dead. I saw hair and blood and from the looks of it I thought the girl was you, I'm so sorry," I say apologetically. She smiles slightly.
"Don't apologize, I love you Daryl, we all make mistakes," Beth exclaims. I smile at the girl I love and kiss her. I lead her to the couch as I coddle our daughter.
"So what's she like?" I ask curiously. A large smile stretches across Beth's face at the mention of our child. I'm glad she is happy. Nothing is more important to me.
"You... and I wouldn't want it to be any other way, I'm telling you she really finds all of the unseen signs in life."
The truth is my whole life was full of unseen signs. But I guess some of them I did see. I sure as hell saw Beth. She is a giant burning ember of confidence and bravery.
How could you miss her?
A/N Okay so I wrote a crappy minuscule epilogue because I felt really bad, I'm terrible I know. SEQUAL is actually a maybe, give it a while I'll think of something.
