Season 5 Bethyl

Fantasy vs Reality

Fantasy vs Reality

Sitting in the living room, Beth tries to teach Judith how to say Daryl. Daryl just sits and laughs as the baby looks between Beth and Daryl. They've been at this all night and still no progress. Getting up, Daryl leaves a kiss on Beth's lips and then leaves to check the windows and the back door.

"Say Dar-yl. Dar-yl." Beth says right as Daryl walks back in and the baby smiles.

"Da-da." Judith says with a huge grin.

"Daryl." Beth says as he growls and storms upstairs. Grabbing Judith, Beth hurries upstairs after him. Putting Judith in her crib, she heads to find Daryl, who's sitting on the parent's bed. "Daryl..."

"Why the fuck can't you just leave it alone?" He flips.

"What? I was trying to teach her your name! I didn't do it on purpose." She snaps back and he stands up chest to chest with her.

"Why did you have to go and take care of her! Couldn't have let Carol do it,could ya?"

"That's what this is about? Me taking care of Judith? Daryl, she had no one. I had no one...she was the only thing keeping me from.... Huh never mind." She turns and Daryl starts getting irritated.

"What?"

"From killin' myself! I fucking hated living in that god damn prison. Everyone looking at me as some damn child! Never having anyone. I hated it and before Judith came along, I was just making a plan on when and how to do it." She feels hot tears stream from her eyes. "That little girl gave me a reason to live. A reason to be here! If she wouldn't have needed me, I wouldn't have been here! You wouldn't have to put up with me and my stupid fascination with hope. Having that little girl gave me a reason to be here. She gave me you."

Silence falls over the tense room. Daryl goes to hug her but she pulls away.

"They all looked at me like I was a waste."

"Beth, we..."

"No! You did. You all jus saw me as another mouth to feed with no real value. When Judith was born and Lori died, it was another reason to just hate life...but when I held her in my arms...I knew I was needed. I knew I was gonna finally get to do somethin' that wasn't sing or look pretty. I made it...but only cause I had Judith. Cause she's the only one who'll ever need me as much as I need them." She storms out of the room leaving tear stains on the wood floor. Daryl stands, pained by the harsh truth and guilty for true thoughts being realized. She was just another mouth and pretty face back then...he even said it one night out on his watch by himself, but now she is way more than that. Going into the daughter's room, he finds her crying into a pillow. Silently walking over to her, he sits on the edge of the bed and hesitates before putting his hand on her back.

"Beth, I'm a jackass. I let my anger get the best of me back there...I...I still love you and was wrong." She turns over into her side and he moves a strand of hair from her eyes. "You're still pretty, and I love your mouth. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I hate this fighting, Daryl. I feel like I lose you more and more and soon...soon I'll be alone." Laying next to her, he pulls her to his chest. And tugs the covers over top of them.

"You won't ever lose me. Beth, I ain't going anywhere without ya."

"Daryl...what if we don't find the group?"

"We lived without 'em before...we'll jus do it again, I guess." He kisses her and she looks up at him.

"What about Judith?"

"She'll just have to put up with us."

"Daryl, you know she learned from association right?"

"What?" He seems confused about the conversation .