Default - The Walking Dead

.2

Marley sat in the soft white chairs that faced an open casket. She quickly turned the chair to turn the piano. The casket reminded her too much of her mom.

"Are you feeling better?" Beth asked walking in with some crackers. Marley glanced over at her and nodded, feeling herself fall back out of character. Beth pulled a chair next to her and held the crackers for Marley to take. She takes them and takes a tiny bit.

"Were you alone?" Beth asked.

"My mom died today." Marley looked at her cracker in her hand. She took a deep breath. "So, I'm alone now."

"You can stay with us." Beth tried to say sweetly. Marley nodded take a deep breath then took another breath. Marley saw Beth's helpless grin so she quickly looked up.

"Thank you." Marley felt forced to say. Beth nodded and stood leaving the room to find the man, Daryl.

-

"She's coming with us." Beth told Daryl in a sigh as she sat down.

"Maybe we can stick around here for a while. They come back, we'll just make it work." Daryl digged his spoon into the jelly. "I may be-it may be nuts. But maybe we'll be alright."

"So, you do think there are still good people around." Beth glanced over her side at Daryl with her shoulders high. Daryl glanced over at Marley in the next room. "What changed your mind?"

"You know." Daryl looked down at his spoon with the jelly.

"What?" Beth's eyes grew wider as she slowly leaned towards Daryl.

"Hmhm." Daryl hummed looking at Beth.

"Don't 'hmhm' me." Beth smiled. "What changed your mind?"

Daryl was silent, staring at Beth through his hair covering his eyes. He takes a deep breath slightly glancing away from Beth until she got it.

"Oh." It was her.

-

Marley chewed her crackers trying not to listen to the people talk. She tried to just chew louder but by that time they just became quiet and she missed the ending. She sighed and forcefully leaned her elbows in her knees, holding her face in her hands. This isn't want a 12 year old does. But it was what she saw her mom do. And she did it to not feel small.

She took a deep breath shaking her leg them looked up sipping her face and looked over at Beth and Daryl who were watching her. When they saw her they quickly looked at each other. Marley took a deep breath and sat the crackers down. She didn't have much of an apatite. She stood and sat at the piano.

Macie taught her some chords once. Macie treated her had a daughter and was almost more of a mother than her own mother. But Marley could never get herself to call her mom. She was scared what her Dad would say. He hadn't believe it was right.

"Do you know how to play?" Beth slide in next to Marley

"My other mom taught me some." She placed her hands on the piano.

"Step mom?"

"No." Marley pressed her hands down on the keys. It sounded awful. "And I don't remember."

"You almost had it. Here." Beth placed her hand above Marley's But placed her pinky on the next over. Marley extended her hand and pressed down on the key,to play an am chord on the out of time piano.

"And this is a D." Beth showed Marley. Marley copied her. "Now play them again."

Marley played them again in a off beat rhythm. But Beth smiled and started to sing a sweet tune as Marley played the chords one after another, again and again until Beth stopped singing. Marley laughed looking up at Beth and Beth finally placed a none sympathetic smile on her lips.

"Let's sleep." Beth placed her hand in Marley's back and they stood. Daryl lied in the coffin which made Marley uncomfortable. When he offered it to her She a shock her head and lied on the ground next to it. Beth lied next to her.

Beth reminded Marley so much over Macie even with the age difference. Marley liked that Beth decided to sleep by her side instead of with Daryl. Marley grabbed Beth's hand for comfort and slept peacefully that night. In the morning Marley was alone on the ground with Daryl asleep above her. Beth and Daryl traded off to keep watch.

"Morning." Beth smiled as Marley walked into the kitchen. Marley grinned grabbing a water then sat in a seat across from Beth. Right in front of the window. "Sleep well?"

"Yeah." Marley took a sip of her water. Marley leaned in to the table close to Beth who leaned in confused Marley eyes Daryl to make sure he was asleep then finally whispered. "Is he your boyfriend?"

"No." Beth laughed at Marley's child-like ways. Marley smiled leaning back.

"Do you like him?" Marley asked.

"Yeah." Beth smirked at the young girl and decided to play along. She put her fingers to her lips pretending to be a kid. "But don't tell him."

"Okay." Marley laughed at the older girl. She knew it was a joke but loved to act as a child. Marley's laughing woke Daryl and he made a bear sound. Marley quickly shut up. She trusted the man a little, but that doesn't mean he doesn't scare her. Most people do. Most men do.

"Morning." Beth chimed looking through the open door. Daryl nodded and hopped out of the coffin. Marley sat down her water and watched him carefully. Holding her breath, she watched him sit across from her. Beth stood.

"I'm gonna look around." She said and limped to the door way.

"Can I come?" Marley's eyes widened. Beth looked over at Daryl then nodded. Marley quickly stood and jumped to Beth. Daryl and Beth laughed.

"What you do to your ankle?" Marley asked looking at Beth limp.

"Tripped." Beth answered and sighed. "How old are you, Marley?"

"Twelve, I think." Marley answered. "You?"

"Eighteen." Beth took a deep breath and turned down the hall. She was hesitant to open the door but all that was inside was more coffins. Marley looked away from them.

"I think I'm gonna go back." Marley told breath.

"Okay." Beth grinned. Marley walked away from Beth but didn't want to be alone with Daryl. Marley, instead, went to the dark back room and sat.

A/n: I shipped Bethyl before but That will not be apart of this book.