One month later...

In the heart of winter, the snow seemed to fall heavier than ever. As though it was intent on burying the world and all that walked upon it. Alexandria had become an island surrounded by an arctic tundra. Food had been stored away for such a time and was rationed, while firewood was distributed evenly amongst residents. Doctors and guards made regular visits to houses where children and the elderly resided. Carley worked hard to have handmade toys, dolls and bears, given out to the children who were detained at home by the snow. Despite the cold and harder times, life never seemed so hopeful. Houses were adorned with decorations. Painted wooden snowflakes and candles. Some houses had trees. Some houses had old record players that croaked out old christmas records. Christmas Day arrived with a fresh layer of snow and a cold north wind.

A tree had been brought from the outskirts, an evergreen, so tall it almost tipped over the SUV used to bring it in. Tyrese had gone with them. Rumour was he chopped it down himself singing a medley of holiday songs, but he fiercely denied it. Carol just smiled whenever the rumour was mentioned, sure to keep her fiancé's secret talent between them.

As night settled in, the candles were lit and the children sang. The town hall was a shadowy figure in the moonlight night, windows and doorway bursting with a soft light and the aroma of a hearty christmas dinner. The townsfolk had worked hard and the smiles on every face seemed ample repayment for their efforts. The evening began to set in and the snow ceased to fall, leaving a soft blanket of snow, smooth and white, as though they might have been inside a snow globe. Everyone was gathered around the tree. Couples stood, embracing, wrapped tightly in each other's arms. The children sang, although most had decided to start a snow ball fight out in the streets. Beth had made a snowman or two herself with Carl for Judith. She liked to watch, and chase the occasional snowflake.

Beth stood, alone, a little away from the tree. Watching her family. Their faces. Maggie and Glenn were arm in arm, laughing with Carol and Tyrese. There was Rick, tossing Judith up in time with the melody of 'silent night,' while Michonne smiled and insisted he pull her hat down further. Carl was with a pretty blonde girl Beth wasn't sure she knew, and with them was Noah and his new girlfriend Cassie. Beth liked seeing them like this, happy and free and alive. Unarmed, safe, no fear of the dead or worse, their fellow companions. She'd learnt to turn off that survival instinct, but even now, she never really trusted in a future here. Something would happen. Something always did. Beth would have to fight again, but here, beside the people she loved, it would be worth the pain. Anything was better than being alone. Blinking away a tear of joy, she almost swore she could see the feint figure of her father and mother, behind Maggie, looking up at the tree. Their phantom figures faded swiftly but Beth knew they were there. Always.

She sighed, rubbing her arms, missing the usual warmth of the arms that often thawed her out on nights like this. His arms. Daryl wasn't there. Beth had agreed he could be spared of the opening festivities. He wasn't hiding, wasn't avoiding the eyes of everyone here. It was common knowledge that they were together, and after a week of disapproving glances, for the most part they were accepted. Not that she or Daryl cared much. Maggie and Glenn had blessed them both, as had Rick. That wasn't why he was missing. No, Daryl didn't like the idea of squeezing between people, forced into conversations, singing christmas carols till midnight. Beth had offered to spend the night with him but he refused. He didn't want her to miss christmas with her family.

Buttoning her jumper up, she began to walk up, to join Maggie, but from the corner of her eye, she spied a figure. There he was. By the steps of the town hall. The greatest gift she could ever hope to receive. When he looked over and smiled, she knew he'd been waiting. Waiting for her to come back to him. Even on a night like this, when he wanted her to be with everyone else, Daryl was still there, ready to catch her if she ever felt as though she might fall back into the fear of what had passed.

How long would it last? How long could it last? Nothing was certain, not now, not when the world was so violent. As safe as they might be now, before long they'd be leaving. Beth was sure of it, and yet she didn't fear what might come next. Not now, when life had given her so much. Those thoughts slipped from her mind as she walked toward him, smiling as he smirked, those dark eyes glinting in the moonlight, his arms pulling her in. There would never be a winter cold enough to settle the fire between them.

Daryl wasn't just her first love. He was her last, and Beth was grateful for that blessing. To know that in the darkest times, in the midst of death and fear and pain, she'd found that one person who was made for her. No one could take his place. Daryl wasn't her boyfriend. That word was too stupid, too childish, too shallow. He was her heart. There wasn't any other way to say it. Cut out the beating lump of flesh from her chest and you would find it had his name carved into it, owned by him, beating for him. Daryl knew that. Knew it only because his own heart was sired to hers. Whatever he believed himself to be. Whatever flaws he saw in himself, Beth saw too and she only loved him more for them. Keeping her in his arms, Daryl pulled back her windswept hair and looked into those crystal blue eyes.

"You shouldn't be wastin' this night on me," he murmured, her fingers playing with the wolf tooth around his neck as she laughed softly and gave him a humoured smile. Pulling him toward her, she let her nose just brush his, whispering,"I didn't come back from the dead and journey all that way to have you hide from me at christmas."

Beth kissed him, smiling against his lips as his arms tightened their hold of her. As the kiss depended, she heard the Carol singers start a new song. A different song. One that made Daryl pull away and frown, glancing at her in confusion.

"That song..." He frowned, eyes widening as he recognised it. It was the song she had asked them to sing. Their song. Be good. She could see the sadness in his expression and pressed her lips to his cheek, leaning toward his ear, "we'll be good. Always."

Daryl smiled, pulling her to his chest, her ear to his heartbeat as they stood there, two candles burning as one, filled with a hope that had been reborn. That was what Beth had brought to his world. To her families world. Renewed hope. Rebirth. Renaissance.