Epilogue

Two years later

Daryl was fucking worn out. Earlier that day, he and Rick had gone out on a run to find some hardware supplies, but ended up getting chased by a damn herd of walkers they'd stumbled across.

When they made it back to their truck, the damn thing wouldn't start, so they had to find a different car that actually worked, double back, pick up all the supplies they'd dropped, and then head home. It should have been a quick trip, with them getting back before lunch, but they didn't pull up to the gate until dark.

Once he saw that Beth wasn't in the living room with the others, he ate the food that she'd left on the counter and started upstairs.

Beth had been having a hard time over the past few months, and he wasn't too sure what to do about it. She wanted a baby, but no matter how often they did it without any protection, he never knocked her up. She felt like something was wrong with her, and that was why nothing was taking, but he felt like he was failing, too.

Maybe he was too old, or some the drugs he'd taken when he was younger had fucked him up? If he said that, though, she'd start to feel worse and say she was being selfish and just thinking of herself or some shit.

On top of all that, for the past few weeks, he hadn't been around during the day, and that was causing issues between them. The simple explanation was that since it had turned cooler, he tried to hunt most days, but Beth had been taking it the wrong way completely. Instead of seeing it as him trying to bring her good meals, she said he was distancing himself from her, and she'd gone on rants about how he didn't want her anymore because she was defective.

She'd lost her damn mind, he figured.

He took a steeling breath before he turned the knob to their room. He heard her crying before he saw her, and he leaned his head against the door and closed his eyes for a moment. Crying was never a good thing. He'd been gone all day, too, so she'd probably made up some insane story about how he'd run off with some bitch he found in town because he didn't love her anymore.

Daryl opened the door and shut it quietly before looking toward the bed. She wasn't there, so he went to the bathroom. She was sitting on the toilet, hunched over with her head in her hands.

"Ya okay?" he asked in a whisper as he crouched down in front of her, his knees popping loudly. He cringed at the pain, and she sobbed a little harder. Daryl was never sure what to do in these situations, so he just patted her shoulder awkwardly.

He hated her crying more than he hated walkers. "Baby, ya gotta tell me what's wrong."

Beth looked up at him and smiled wide. "Happy tears."

"Huh?" His brow furrowed in confusion.

"I'm so happy," she whispered.

"Ya sure?" he asked as he stood up and leaned against the counter.

She held out her hand, and he looked down at the plastic stick she held there. He knew what it was because she'd had him pick her up some a long time ago when she thought she was pregnant during the spring.

She hadn't been, or maybe she had, and she'd miscarried. There'd been a lot of blood, and she'd hurt. He didn't like to think about it, but his mind went there a lot without his consent. God, he'd thought she was going to die then, but when he'd realized what it was, when she'd realized what had happened, she'd been beyond devastated. The only way he'd coped was by pretending it was just a bad period. He'd never wanted kids, but thinking they'd lost one made him understand just how wrong he was. He wanted that with Beth more than anything.

Daryl swallowed hard as he looked at the results box. Normally, there was a single pink line followed by weeks of sadness. Today, though, there was a faint second line, and still Beth cried. His heart jumped into his throat for a moment. "Wow."

He pulled back those feelings quickly. He didn't get his hopes up or think he'd be looking for baby stuff over the coming winter because that test was old—and what if it was wrong? What if he got just as excited as she was and then it all turned out false? She'd be fucking devastated—again—and he'd fall apart, too.

"This is the fifth one I've taken. I used them all after the first one came back positive," she whispered, staring up at him with wide eyes.

"Well, shit. After the day I had, I sure as hell ain't goin' out for more of 'em, so they better be right." He laughed.

Beth bit her lip and stood up. "I've been sick—a lot. I made Maggie and Carol promise not to tell ya since ya haven't been here. I can't even look at the meat ya bring in. It makes my stomach turn." She paused and looked a little sheepish as she added, "I think I've been actin' a little off the last few weeks, too. I've been really emotional and teary."

"That's the damn truth." He smiled at her and pulled her to him, hugging her close.

"Are ya happy?" she asked as he rocked her back and forth.

He thought about it for a minute. He was terrified. He didn't know much about babies or having them. He was worried about how she'd do during the birth and if she and the baby would survive. He couldn't tell her all those things, though, so he kissed her softy, and said, "Yeah, I'm happy."

For a few seconds, he let himself really feel those words.

The winter passed by quickly, and he, Rick, and Michonne made several trips out to gather things for Beth and the others. Then, during a particularly bad cold snap, the fucking solar panels died. None of them knew how to fix those bastards either, so they had to use the fireplace in the living room and make a group sleeping area during the harshest part of the season.

Daryl tried to find books in the library near them, but it was a bust. No one had a direction manual lying around anywhere on the mechanics of solar technology. He was sure that their luck had run out when it came to electricity.

Of course, everyone's morale hit rock bottom for a few weeks as they got used to cooking over a fire again and not having water on tap. The only person who was happy really was Beth. If she looked over and saw him scowling, she'd grab his hand and place it over her belly.

"He's havin' a blast," she'd say as the baby kicked and rolled.

Daryl would usually smirk, close his eyes, and lean his head back against the wall or the couch. He didn't stop worrying, but feeling the baby like that certainly made him feel lighter.

On one of their last trips that winter, they brought Carol with them to search out clothes and women's items. It wasn't that they were uncomfortable with it, because they would have been fine with just a list, but Carol really wanted out of the house, and she'd asked months ago if they'd take her to her hometown when they were able.

She moved around, gathering things, and Rick and Daryl kept watch. They were almost done for the day when a man approached them, holding up his hands.

"Hey there!" he called out, and they all turned, raising their weapons.

"Sam?" Carol asked and started to approach him.

"Carol, is that you?"

She ran then and hugged him tightly. "I didn't think anyone else was left."

"Well, a lot of 'em aren't," the man said, looking at Daryl and Rick. "Sandy died a long time ago, but the kids are alive. We're in a bunker right now, but we move a lot. Ain't ready to leave here because I don't really know where else to go and what's safe, ya know?"

"I hear ya. It's a mess out here."

"Are ya alone?" he asked.

Carol nodded, looking down. "It's been awhile, too."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry about Ed. But thank you when it comes to Sophia. She didn't belong here, though."

After that, it was damn near impossible to say no to Sam and his kids coming to stay in the house. He and Carol had gone to high school together and remained distant friends even after she married her asshole husband.

When they got back to the house and explained the group sleeping area in the main living room due to the dead solar panels, Sam just shook his head.

"I worked with them before this," he said and smiled. "I know all about installation, troubleshooting, and repair. I mean, we might have to go out and get some stuff to fix it, but I can probably do it. I can take you to where I used to work. If it's still in place, we can get whatever we need."

Later that night, when everyone had fallen asleep, Daryl prayed for the first time in a long time. He thanked God from bringing them Sam. He thanked Hershel, too.

It took about two months, but Sam fixed the panels and the house was buzzing again. They had water and lights, and now they had Sam to work on the panels and maintain them the way they were supposed to be cared for. Daryl knew it was another huge break in their favor.

The months that followed saw Carol and Sam grow a hell of a lot closer and ended with them sharing a room. He pulled his weight, and his kids, who were sixteen and fourteen, were polite and helpful. No one minded. In fact, the rest of the group were happy Carol had found a good man in the shit storm they called life now.

Carl was looking to get lucky, too, but Sam and Adam, his younger son, kept a close eye on his daughter Mandy. She was sixteen, and Carl was only a little older. Rick had several talks with him because of it, and Daryl figured there would be many more to come.

They were very sneaky, but not sneaky enough to get past him. Sam was in for a rude awakening when he realized that sweet, little Mandy was sneaking Carl through her window nearly every night.

He wasn't Daryl's kid, though, and he knew they really didn't need another baby right now, so he placed a couple of boxes of condoms in Carl's room. Only Beth knew he put them there. He'd turned into a fucking gossip, lying there in bed with her, feeling the baby move around.

He was such a pussy.

But he didn't mind when it came to her.

The anniversary of Walter's death came upon them once spring arrived.

Every single one of them had been shocked by his death about six months after they'd moved in. One minute, he was sitting at the kitchen table talking to Beth and Carol, and the next he stood up, complaining of his shoulder and head hurting. As he turned to go to his room, he collapsed, causing both of them to run to his side. But it was too late. It must have been a massive heart attack because Carol couldn't feel a pulse at all, and within minutes, he was turning.

Rick barely made it inside to take care of him before he got off the floor. Even though it was so sudden, Rick made sure to handle it with as much respect as he could. Walter had never wanted to turn, but it couldn't have been helped. Beth and Carol were in utter shock that he'd died so quickly.

It had been a massive blow to the group. Walter had been their voice of reason. Even though shit was so terrible, he'd always have something to add to the conversation to make things seem okay. He was a good man, and Daryl had let a few tears falls as he dug his grave.

Now, he watched as Beth laid some flowers over his and Cynthia's graves and held a hand to her round stomach.

A whole lot had changed since then, but one thing was certain. Walter was the man who'd saved his life and his family, and he'd forever be grateful to him.

Two short months later, he sat on the edge of the bed as Beth slept, holding his son in his arms. It had been an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth, and the boy was perfect.

Daryl was overwhelmed by the whole damn thing.

When Carol had delivered him, Beth asked, "Who is it?"

He took him from Carol, and smiled up at his wife, and said, "Daniel."

Beth had clapped a hand over her mouth and laughed. "I told ya!"

Now, he looked down at his sleeping boy and couldn't believe how full his life was in spite of all the terrible things going on outside their fence.

How'd he get so fucking lucky?

He realized that even though his son would grow up in a world where monsters were real, and he'd learn how to defend himself, his mother, and his family at a young age, he'd never have to deal with the monsters Daryl had grown up with.

Daniel would always know he was loved and protected. Valued and adored. He'd get his daddy's hunting lessons and his momma's hope. He'd be able to walk around the yard without fear, especially since the walkers were becoming thinner and thinner, especially up in the forests. He'd be the future for them.

Daniel opened his pale blue eyes and looked up at Daryl, and Daryl's heart skipped a beat.

No, he'd never have to deal with the shit Daryl did. Not ever.