Emerging from the woods, you purposely stepped on a twig to snap in, drawing the armed men's attention towards you and away from Daryl and Beth.
"Whoa there," the man with salt and pepper hair said, walking towards you with his gun raised. "What we got here boys?"
You raised your hands and twisted your face to a look of fear.
"I'm just... oh, my god. Sir, I'm sorry, I am just lost," you thickened your voice with as much panic as you could.
At the sound of the conversation, Daryl looked up, his eyes wide over the gag covering his mouth. Beth also saw you and looked over to see Daryl's expression. When she looked back at you, her eyes were pleading for help.
"Well ain't we just a lucky bunch of bastards tonight gents! Two beautiful young girls and one poor fucker who gets to watch!"
Turning to see the reactions and laughs of his friends, you took the opportunity to draw your weapon from the waistband of your sweatpants and point it at the closest of the men, pulling your trigger quickly and pointing at the next man before the first hit the ground.
Daryl recoiled in surprise, twisting in his restraints to try and get to you. The rest of the men pointed their weapons, but before they could aim and shoot at you, a gunshot from the perimeter of the woods took down one more of the men.
"Now, gents..." you started, all fear washed from your face, "I'm gonna bet that you couldn't get a shot off before one of my companions out there dropped two more of you."
You moved slowly around the remaining men and closer to where Daryl and Beth sat.
"You have no idea how many of us are out there... Seems like you may be better off letting the house win this one."
The man with salt and pepper hair watched you with the eyes of a hawk. He allowed a quick flicker of a glance over at Daryl and Beth seeming to weigh his options.
"Maybe we can talk this out darlin'," he said, a snake-like grin spreading across his face.
"First of all, don't call me darlin'," you said aiming the gun at his head; a small snap of a twig behind you and Daryl's expression told you to turn and fire. As you did, the man that was about to jump you from behind had their head exploded by another gunshot from out in the woods.
Without warning, Maggie, Sasha, and Bob emerged from the opposite side of the wood line, guns drawn and pointed at the gang of marauders.
You drew in a deep breath, turned and smiled at the man. Behind him, Glenn, Abraham, Rosita, and Eugene also emerged, weapons raised and ready to fire.
"Secondly," you said, feeling exhausted, yet somehow exhilarated, "you shoulda run when you had the chance."
As if on cue, Daryl was on his feet and knocking the man off his and onto the ground. Beth was up and running at one of the other one men nearby. Gunfire erupted for the second time that day, and this time there was no avoiding it. Both groups firing at the other, but in the end, the ones who were holding Daryl and Beth were the ones on the ground covered in blood.
When the echoes of the shots finally died down throughout the trees, Glenn saw Maggie through the dust and smoke. Running to her, they grabbed onto the other for dear life. Maggie was laughing through her tears while covering Glenn's face in kisses.
Abraham and Rosita gave each other a weary smile, feeling as though they had done the right thing by staying. Looking around, Abe was surveying the damage when he spotted her laying on the ground.
"Oh shit," he said kneeling where Beth lay on the ground.
Maggie's eyes traveled down to where Abraham knelt. The scream that left her body was otherworldly, and something you knew you'd never forget. Beth's eyes were closed, and blood poured from a hole in her sweater, right where her heart had been. Maggie fell to the ground, covering her little sister with her own body.
You felt your knees give out and you were sinking down to the muddy ground. Rosita cut Daryl's hands-free and in seconds, he was wrapping his arms around you, helping you back up.
You could hear his voice as if through a tunnel, calling your name and trying to get your attention. Glenn was at Maggie's side, holding onto her while she grieved for her sister.
Daryl's hands were on your face, "Y/N... hey... look at me," his eyes flickered down to where Beth lay, but his hands never left your face. "Sweetheart, look at me..."
You finally could look away from Beth's lifeless body and up to his face. Tears were falling and you didn't even try to stop them. Daryl's arms wrapped around you and turned your face into his chest.
"Don't look baby... just don't look," he kissed your head and held you tightly.
The next day dawned just as Daryl and Glenn were laying Beth to rest in the ground. Abraham, Rosita and Eugene were cleaning up the remaining bodies, Bob and Sasha standing watch on the road, while you and Maggie sat on the porch swing hand in hand.
"I'm so sorry Maggie," you said squeezing her hand as you watched the men lower her body in and begin to cover her with dirt.
"Me too," she mumbled solemnly, "I guess she's with daddy now."
Your head snapped around to look at her. You flashed back to the last time you saw Hershel, being forced to kneel on the ground where those people had attacked. Closing your eyes and swallowing deeply, you pulled Maggie closer to you, and she didn't resist.
"Maggie, I don't get it, where did you guys come from? Last night, you just appeared..."
"No," her voice was completely flat. Your heart broke for her, and you wanted to take the question back, save for another time. But Maggie kept talking and explained how they'd ended up in the woods.
"We found the car, drove it here to meet up with everyone. Those men shot at us on the road. So we ditched the car and scattered into the woods, but kept watch in case y'all came."
You nodded and squeezed her hand.
"You saved our lives, Maggie."
"Not all of you," she looked over to where Glenn was adding dirt on top of Beth's grave.
There was nothing more you could say. You felt grateful for Daryl and Maggie being alive, but an underlying guilt for what was lost in the process.
After it was done, you all sat around the cabin, quiet and unsure of your next move. Abraham and Rosita continued to exchange a wordless conversation about their mission, while the rest of you couldn't help but wonder where everyone else was.
Within the next hour, you heard voices traveling down the lane. Being on high alert, Daryl went out to the porch ready for yet another fight, but as the rest of your extended family traveled down the path together, Daryl felt his resolve finally give. You were at his side the second you saw him drop to the porch step, arm around his shoulder as silent tears fell in relief.
Not long after that reunion Abraham had mentioned, minus the singing of kumbaya, did he convince Rick and the rest to start the long haul north to D.C.
As the group set foot to asphalt, Daryl touched your elbow to hold you back.
"Still haven't had a chance to say hi," he drew you into him. His scent and the familiar feeling of his body against yours felt heavenly. He leaned down to kiss you, his lips soft and welcoming to yours.
His hand went to your stomach, and gently rubbed the place that your unborn child was growing. Daryl reluctantly released you, and his expression turned serious.
"You ever pull some shit like that again, and I'll kill ya myself," he warned partially in jest. "That was dumb sweetheart. I know why..."
"No, you don't. I know it was dumb, Daryl. And I feel responsible for Beth..." you cast a quick glance to be sure Maggie was out of earshot. "But, I would have done anything to make sure you were safe. Because without you, there is no us. You," you paused trying to hold back the tears that wanted to fall. Being pregnant you felt like you were always on the verge, but this time it was the overwhelming feeling of love you had for Daryl and your baby.
"You could survive without me, Daryl. You could... you could go on and continue your life. I don't know if I could do it without you. I am not as strong as Maggie, and I'm not as brave as you. If I didn't have the two of you, I wouldn't still be here."
"Bullshit," he said, holding you at arm's length. "Look what you did. You got Glenn to safety, found people that are useful, saved my dumb ass from a bunch of assholes... YOU did that. No one else. You're just as strong as she is... just as brave as anyone. You think I fell in love with you just cause your beautiful? Or 'cause you know just how to get to me... ya know..." Despite the situation, his eyes covered you with the look of lust you'd come to know very well since getting together with him.
"I don't know, maybe..." you teased, and he pulled you into him.
"We gotta find a new place. That starts here with these people," he motioned to the group that was now getting far ahead of you. "But you were right when you said that together, we can do this. We can, we got them and we got us," he leaned down and kissed the lower part of your stomach. "And, we got her."
"Her?" you asked, your eyes wide with surprise. "How do you know it's a her?"
"Mmm, I dunno. I just do," he hooked an arm around your shoulders and steered you towards whatever new destination lay ahead.