Hello - yes, this is it, this is the final chapter.

I started this fic in 2015 and I never for the life of me imagined I would still be working on it four years later - I've had some big gaps in between and taken some time as life got in the way, but I always wanted to complete it. I think it's the first thing I have ever actually finished.

To anyone that has stuck with it, and if there is anyone that has been here through those four years, thank you! Your comments and likes mean a whole lot to me, and make me feel like I should keep writing and updating! This fic started out as a lot of fun and something sort of silly with a friend during the height of the show, but I knew I needed to finish it for my own sanity!

I hope I have done it justice. I almost feel like I am saying goodbye to an old friend...

Anyway, thanks for reading! I've move over predominately to AO3 now (same ID), but I'm also on Tumblr Bruteforceandignorance if anyone wants to chat with me, or see new writing or art.

The first night of their daughter's existence was a blur of diapers, feeds and tears – on all fronts. Beth was overcome with an exhaustion she never knew possible, and that was impressive considering everything they had already been through, yet she hardly knew which way up she was. Daryl helped as best he could, holding the baby, rocking her back to sleep, changing diapers, but he could not feed her – that fell on Beth alone. And for such a tiny frame, she ate a lot. It would be a tough job, Beth knew, making sure she kept herself nourished enough to feed a whole new human in a world where food was scarce and nutrients a luxury, but it was a role she was willing and eager to take on. The second the babies small mouth latched on to her, she knew she would do everything in her power to keep her safe, well, and fed.

It was a strange new world for all of them, though, this strange limbo of inky darkness in the hours of their daughter's first night, and Beth felt a little sorry for the tiny bundle in her arms. She had been safe and warm and content within Beth's belly her whole existence, and now she was out in the air, fending for herself, her large blue eyes accosted by sudden sights and lights and faces. It was no wonder she cried.

Beth thought she had gotten perhaps two hours of sleep when she felt the sun on her face; she blinked her swollen, tired eyes open and adjusted her arm slightly beneath the weight of the sleeping baby – finally – beside her. Her little eyes were closed and small, fair lashes brushed gently against her rosy cheeks, and her little chest rose and fell softly as she breathed steadily. Beth thought she had heard somewhere, in a past life, about the dangers of falling asleep with a baby in a bed, but that was a different world. And as she gazed sleepily down at the little bundle, Beth knew she wouldn't want her anywhere else right now.

Despite her exhaustion, Beth smiled. Such a perfect, tiny little bundle was hers. In this world of pain and suffering, to know something so pure and beautiful could even exist was astounding. It was gut twisting in so many ways – amazing and miraculous that she and Daryl had created something so pure, and terrifying too, that something so fragile now relied on her.

She dozed lightly for a little while until the baby stirred, and then it was go time again.

The day passed in a fuzz; Maggie visited around midday, and cooed over her new niece. Rick visited too, bringing them Daryl's beautifully carved crib from Hilltop, and Carol a little while later with some freshly cooked food and to check up on them. Daryl left Beth a few times to smoke or stretch his legs, but only once was she actually alone with the baby.

Evening drew in again and Beth gently laid their baby into the crib that lay close beside their bed; she paused, sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her through the bars – she looked far too small in there. Beth had to stop herself from scooping her back out.

The little girl yawned widely as she settled herself, and Beth grinned.

'Why don't you go take a shower?' Daryl said, leaning over to look at the sleeping baby too.

'You saying I smell, Dixon?' Beth asked quietly.

Daryl just shook his head as Beth sighed; a shower would do her good, actually. Help clear her head.

'Alright.' She said. 'You'll be okay?'

Their en-suite had a bath with an over head shower attachment, but Beth thought she would be better off using the large cubicle shower down the hall.

'I'll be fine.' Daryl said. 'She wakes up an' screams I'll get y'sister.'

Beth laughed – she was certain that he would, too.

'I'm sure you will.' She said.

Slowly – moving and walking was still difficult for her – Beth gathered her things and made her way down the darkening hall to the bathroom.

She walked with care, her body aching and sore, cautious not to push herself too far. Her body ached like it had never ached before – broken limbs, gun shot wounds, bruises and cuts were a different sort of pain, but this dull ache was something that would take a lot longer to heal. It resonated from deep within her, and she knew the healing would be more than just physical.

She stayed beneath the shower for longer than she had meant to – she washed her hair out and spent some time cleaning her body, wincing as she ran her hands between her legs. She stood for a little while just enjoying the warmth, her mind wandering. As she stood, letting the water wash over her, a strange mix of emotions waved over her. Joy, of course, at having had her baby, and relief too, but as she ran her hands over her now flat belly, there was loss there, too. The skin was not the same as it had been, either. It still bumped out, but now the skin hung looser, and that gave her a sense of regret and sorrow that not even she could truly understand.

Before she even knew it, she was crying.

–

Beth dried herself off, feeling fresher and a little more herself after cleaning and crying, and dressed in fresh pyjamas. She took the walk back to her room slowly again, looking forward to crawling back into bed. She pushed the door to the room open slowly and peered in – she noticed instantly that her baby was not in her crib.

She stepped into the room and spotted her with Daryl; Daryl was half lying on the bed, his back propped up against the pillows on the headboard. Their little one was cradled gently against his bare chest, one small cheek squidged against it.

Beth's heart squeezed painfully at the sight and she felt tears rush to her eyes again.

Pulling herself together, she padded over to the bed and climbed in beside them.

–

When Daryl woke again, he realised neither Beth nor their baby were in the bed with him.

He sat up, looking around the room until his eyes landed on her – she had taken herself and their daughter over to the recliner that was set up by the large window; the sun was rising outside and the sky was a brilliant mixture of oranges and pinks, the colours dancing through the window and dusting over Beth's face. She was looking down at the baby in her arms, who seemed to be sleeping.

Gently, Daryl climbed out of the bed and moved towards the end of it, where he sat to look at the two girls in his life.

'You okay?' He asked her quietly, careful not to wake the baby.

Beth looked up at him through her light lashes. She smiled.

'Yeah.' He said. 'Look at her.'

'Did you just feed her?' Daryl asked.

Beth laughed lightly, the baby in her arms moving gently with the movement.

'Of course.' Beth said. 'She's a little glutton.'

Daryl smiled.

'Isn't she beautiful.' Beth sighed.

'Yeah,' Daryl agreed. 'Like her momma.'

Beth smiled up at him again.

'She's so tiny.' Beth said in awe. 'Have you seen her fingernails? Tiny. Tiny little nails on tiny little fingers… it's all just so – small.'

Daryl chuckled softly.

Beth glanced up at him.

'She hardly seems real.' She said.

'I know.' Daryl nodded. 'But she is.'

'She is.' Beth agreed, turning back to look at their daughter as the sun rose in the background and danced over her soft skin.

–

It was some time during the next day that Beth voiced what she had been thinking during that sunrise; she was sitting back on the bed with the baby laid on her back on the duvet between them. She was awake, her eyes blinking as they tried to adjust and make out the shapes closest to her, her little tongue poking from between her lips.

'I've been thinking,' Beth said softly. 'She's our new beginning.'

Daryl nodded.

'How about Nova?'

'Huh?' Daryl frowned.

'For her name. She needs a name. We can't keep calling her baby.' Beth said.

'Nova?' Daryl asked.

'Yeah.' Beth smiled, gently stroking a finger over her daughter's face. 'It means new. I was watching her in the sun this morning and it just felt – right.'

'Thought it was a star?' Daryl said.

'It can be that too.' Beth smiled. 'New beginning, and our little star.'

Daryl mulled it over for a moment as he chewed on his inner cheek.

'Nova.' He said, testing it. 'Yeah… I like it.'

'Are you Nova?' Beth whispered, leaning down to gently kiss the baby's head. The little one in question scrunched her face up but did not complain. 'I think you are.'

–

Nova Annette Dixon took her first real foray out of the bedroom at three days old; Beth brought her down into the lounge and introduced her to a few new faces. Daryl stood by her side, watching over them from a little way off, but Beth knew he was there. If Beth looked uncomfortable or in pain he was there, taking Nova from her or making sure she was okay.

Beth and the baby had been downstairs for about an hour when Jessie arrived; she let herself in the front door like she had never been anywhere else.

'Beth!' She cried as she headed over.

'Jessie!' Beth laughed, a little surprised. 'Hi!'

Jessie leant down to gently give Beth a hug, then stood back to look at the baby in her arms.

'So I was right, was I?' She grinned.

'You were right.' Beth laughed. 'She was born that night.'

Jessie smiled and sat herself down next to Beth, gentle so as not to rock or disturb the baby in her arms.

'Would you like to hold her?' Beth asked her friend once she was settled.

Jessie grinned.

'Could I?' She asked.

'Of course.' Beth chuckled; she manoeuvred herself gently so she could pass the little girl into the other woman's arms. Jessie cooed softly as the baby was transferred, looking down at her.

'Oh Beth she's beautiful.' She said softly. 'Does she have a name?'

'Yeah,' Beth smiled. 'Nova.'

'Oh,' Jessie sighed. 'That's lovely.'

Nova looked up blearily at Jessie's face, her own face scrunched up.

'Hello beautiful.' Jessie beamed. 'Aren't you precious.'

She turned slightly to Beth then.

'Look in that bag I brought,' she said. 'I finished sewing up your blanket.'

Beth sucked in her breath; before she could bend down, Daryl was there, bringing the bag up to her. She smiled at him, allowing him to fuss her. He stepped back as she unzipped it and pulled out the wonderfully soft fabric within.

She spread it out over her lap and as she looked at it, her breath caught in her throat; each individual square was different, but it all worked together so perfectly. A reflection of their patch work family, brought together through circumstance but stitched together as one.

Beth spotted her own square in the middle – a little sewn arrow and heart. She chuckled; it was a crude representation, but it meant a lot to her. Her eyes scanned over the whole thing, across flowers, and birds, and hearts. She laughed as she saw the mason jar of moonshine – undoubtedly Maggie's. She traced her finger softly over the lines of thread as tears welled in her eyes.

'Do you like it?' Jessie asked her as she gently rocked a frowning Nova in her arms.

'Oh, Jessie, I love it.' Beth sighed; it was possibly the most beautiful thing she had ever seen – besides her baby, of course. It was everything she needed and loved, her family and the community that had helped her grow and thrive all sewn together as a constant reminder. She didn't have the words to express her gratitude, but the warm tears that rolled down her face probably told Jessie enough.

'I might not live here any more, Beth, but I will always be here for you. For both of you. You know that, right?' Jessie asked.

Beth gave her a watery smile.

'I do.' She said.

'And if you and Daryl ever need a night off, you let me know.' Jessie grinned.

'Oh, I don't think she'll be short of willing baby sitters.' Maggie grinned.

'You say that now.' Beth laughed as she wiped at her wet face with her hand.

Both Jessie and Maggie – and a lot of the other members of her extended family, too – were true to their word as the months passed and the newest addition to their assorted family grew. Beth did not let her daughter out of her sight for the first few weeks of her life, but once she reached the third month of her life, Beth allowed others to take her for a little while – if only for walks around the town and to play for a couple of hours.

Judith was incredibly keen on her, and Beth had to watch the toddler carefully, but she was surprisingly gentle. She was allowed to sit on the sofa and hold the baby on her lap, and she would grin excitedly the whole time. She pinched her cheek perhaps a little too hard once, but Beth wouldn't hold that against her. And Nova had only cried for a little while from the shock. They would grow up together now, with only a few years in between, and Beth looked forward to what she knew would be a strong and important friendship.

Carl was great with her too, which shouldn't have been surprising, seeing as how well he had looked after Judith over the years. Beth was more than happy to let possibly her oldest friend take her out on sunny walks or sit with her outside for a while while she ate, slept or bathed. Where once Carl had been reckless and headstrong, he had grown into a fierce, competent leader, and Beth trusted him with her daughter's life now as well as her own. The days of illicit break outs were probably behind them, but she could count on him where it mattered now. And if Daryl knew his girl as well as he thought he did, he could trust Carl would still be there when she needed to live a little recklessly again. Neither himself nor the prison walls had kept her in check, he doubted Alexandria or Nova would – but he wouldn't have had her any other way. She too was headstrong, and if he was lucky, their daughter would be, too.

If he didn't smoke already, he likely would have taken it up.

Maggie, of course, doted on Nova. She came back with something she had scavenged whilst out hunting almost every time, and for a baby born amidst an apocalypse, she was surprisingly spoiled. Beth and Daryl's room was full of baby things, and the little girl's collection was only growing. She could lay on her front and hold her head up herself now, but a lot of the things people brought back from outside their walls would not get used for some time still – but Beth supposed anything in good condition couldn't be passed up these days – and some of the things Judith took delight in looking after until Nova could use them. A rocking horse Aaron had found, for instance. It had needed some fixing up and some buffing, but Daryl had built a crib from scratch, after all. And Beth was happy for Judith to take care of it until Nova was big enough to use it.

Beth was changing Nova, for the third time the particular day, when Daryl walked into the room with Rick. The baby took advantage of her mom looking across at the two men to roll away, her chubby little legs kicking free of the outfit Beth had been struggling to get her in to.

Beth grabbed the baby before she got too far and pulled her back. Nova just gurgled.

'Rick's got something he wants t'show us.' Daryl told her.

'Yeah?' Beth asked as she shoved one fat leg into a hole she hoped was the leg hole.

'Whenever you're ready.' Rick smiled.

Beth finished dressing her daughter and hoisted her up into her arms.

'Alright.' She said. 'Lead the way.'

Rick led them both out of the house and into the sun; Beth held Nova and glanced up at Daryl. He just shrugged down at her.

Rick led them a little way from the main houses past the lake, which sparkled in the afternoon sun. As they walked, he gestured towards a small house set amongst some trees.

'I think these houses were some of the first ones built.' He said. 'We're guessing as a sort of test for some of the ecosystems they use. They were pretty unscathed by the fires.'

They made their way up the garden path and Rick paused in front of the door.

'We noticed little Nova here is building up a fine collection of belongings.' He smiled, leaving across to stroke the fine hair on the babies head. Nova blinked. 'And some of us thought your little family would prefer its own space now.'

Beth's eyebrows rose as she looked properly at the house – it was one story, and smaller than the one they had just left. It looked like it had been worked on recently.

'You're kicking us out?' She asked.

'No!' Rick cried, but Beth just laughed; Rick sighed, then smiled. 'Of course not.' He said. 'We just thought you might appreciate your own place.'

Beth looked up at Daryl, who was taking in the house in his usual silence. She could see him thinking, see him weighing up the options. She believed she could guess at his thoughts – the room the three of them shared now was getting cramped, and it would be nice to have the space, somewhere Nova could roam with the space to grow. But he also knew how this world worked, and anyone separated was vulnerable.

'Do you want to take a look inside?' Rick asked.

'I would like to.' Beth said.

Daryl nodded in a way Beth knew meant it was up to her, so she followed Rick inside.

The door opened into a large open plan kitchen and living area, not dissimilar to the one in the house that had been their home since discovering Alexandria. Beth wandered around the space, eyeing up the counter tops and the cupboards. She shifted Nova to one arm and tested the tap in the sink – it spluttered for a moment, the hidden pipes gurgling, then water poured forth. She smiled as she turned it off.

So it was connected up to the system still. That was good.

Beyond the kitchen a door led to a hallway, which branched off into two bedrooms of relative similar sizing, with a bathroom at the end. Both bedrooms seemed to get the sun, and the rooms were spacious and bright. Beth stood in the middle of the slightly smaller one and imaged Nova's crib set up in it, the rocking horse in one corner, toys and teddies scattered around.

Her stomach flipped giddily and she grinned.

'I like it.' She said.

'You do?' Daryl asked.

'Yeah.' She said. 'It's nice. It's cosy, but there's space for Nova to grow. We can be who we need to be here. We can raise our daughter in safety and space.'

'Hm.' Daryl bit at the side of his thumb as he looked at the room.

'What're you thinking?' Beth asked him.

He shrugged.

'You don't want to leave the people?' Beth coaxed. 'You think we're safer together.'

'Mm.' Daryl nodded.

Beth stepped over to him and gently reached up to touch his face.

'We're not alone here.' She said. 'It took us, what, five, ten minutes to walk here? We're still within the walls. We're all connected.'

Daryl nodded.

'Yeah.' He said slowly. 'Yer right. I just – I just don't wanna be out here if anything goes down.'

'I could run here quicker than it takes you to load your crossbow, Dixon.' Rick grinned. 'And we've got the walkies. No one is alone here. No one.'

Daryl studied the other man for a moment, his eyes serious behind his hair. Beth was unsure which way he would fall – she could push him easily, she knew that, but she would never live comfortably knowing he hadn't been 100% on board. He had to agree with her off his own back, or it would never be their home. And if he truly felt like they wouldn't be safe here, then Beth would not take that risk. Not even for an extra bedroom.

Daryl nodded.

'A'right.' He said. 'Yer right. But I'm setting defences up round the outside.'

Beth laughed – of course he was. Somehow she would have to teach Nova not to crawl beneath or play with the hubcaps. Rick grinned as he nodded.

Beth gently passed the squirming baby in her arms to her daddy; Daryl took her and let her look over his shoulder.

'How much do you want for it, Officer?' Beth asked Rick, appraising the room once more now that she could.

Rick grinned as he shook his head.

'You say the word you'll be happy here and it's yours.' He said.

'Okay.' Beth smiled. 'I think we'll be very happy here.'

Over the next few weeks the little family moved what little they had into their new home. The rest of the family helped, and Beth felt awash with pride and excitement as she watched them place things within the small house. Nova's crib went in the smaller bedroom, facing the window but away from it for safety, and a whole new chest of drawers for all the outfits she had accumulated already.

Beth felt like it was really, truly her own home the night her sister and Glenn came over for dinner. She cooked it up herself with produce from their expanding gardens and dished it all up on the dining table that had already been in the house. She had always imagined herself set up on a farm one day, with horses and a porch that went all the way around, but once the fall had hit, she had given up hope on that dream. She had given up hope on a whole lot of her dreams – so to sit in a house that she could call her own, albeit in name only, was a gift she would never tire of. To her, this little one story house with its two bedrooms was a palace, and she herself was undoubtedly Queen.

Daryl bathed and put Nova to bed in her own room – she would likely wake and spend most of the night in Beth and Daryl's room, but for now she was sleeping in her crib – then joined them as Maggie and Glenn sat down to eat.

'You know, I never had you down as a home maker, Daryl Dixon.' Maggie grinned as he sat down beside Beth.

He shrugged.

'Me neither.'

'It's good though.' Maggie said. 'It suits you.'

Daryl smiled slightly as his face flushed beneath the sun kissed skin; Beth beamed.

They had been through so much, all four of them, their lives marred by and changed forever by death and destruction, loved ones lost. The years had passed and altered so much, but they had somehow managed to find love, and comfort, and carved out a life for their-selves. Their daddy would have been proud, Beth knew that for certain.

The Governer, Dawn, Negan – all of them were in the past now, and the future was sleeping peacefully, for now, just down the hall.

They chatted idly and laughed freely as they ate, and Beth felt lighter than she had in years. It hadn't all been for nothing – all of the suffering and misery had not been for nothing. They had made something here, created something, and whilst Beth knew better than to grow complacent, she allowed herself a moment of hope. A moment to hope that maybe this little house with its open planned living space and two bedrooms could be their forever home. And who knew – maybe the future even held a sibling for Nova… but she was getting ahead of herself.

Maggie and Glenn left once it was dark, and Nova allowed Beth and Daryl a couple of hours to lay in their own bed by their-selves. It was quiet outside, and the two of them lay together in peaceful silence.

'We got it made alright, don't we?' Daryl said softly.

Beth grinned in the dim room.

'Yeah.' She said. 'We sure do.'

–

Nova was a little over six months old when Daryl approached Beth with something she never expected. She was sitting out the front of their house, Nova sitting up now on a blanket on the grass, chewing happily on one of her toys, when Daryl approached them. Beth stood up to greet him and pull him towards her – he had been out on a hunt, and no matter how many times he went, Beth still worried. Seeing him coming down the path always sent a wave of relief through her.

'I got something I wanna show ya.' He said once she let him go.

Beth watched as he pulled something out of his pocket; he held them up in his hand and Beth frowned in confusion as the sun glinted off of them – two gold bands.

'Rings?' Beth asked.

Daryl swallowed, and Beth could see the tips of his ears redden as he nodded.

'Yeah. Uh – wedding rings. I would'a – y'know – got you a different one – like, another one – but -'

'Wait, Daryl, are you asking me to marry you?' Beth laughed.

Daryl shrugged.

'Yeah.' He said. 'I guess. I mean, it don't need t'be proper, but I think I'd feel better if I could call ya my wife. I thought if we both had a ring it would feel more – yknow. Proper.' He cleared his throat.

Beth laughed, genuinely laughed, and closed her hands around Daryl's.

'Of course!' She laughed. 'Yes Daryl of course!'

'Really? You don't care that it ain't, like, sparkly or nothing?' He said. He seemed incredibly unsure of himself, and Beth only found it all the more endearing.

'No Daryl I don't mind.' Beth smiled. She took her hands from Daryl's and opened his palm back up to reveal the rings. 'Thing's aren't the same any more. I don't need some big flashy show, or some sparkly engagement ring. This simple band means more to me than any of that ever would if it matches yours.'

Daryl sighed in evident relief.

'I hoped so.' He said. He took the smaller of the two rings and gently pushed it onto Beth's outstretched finger. He grinned. 'I knew I picked t'right girl.'

Beth laughed and took the other ring, pushing it onto Daryl's own finger. Then she leant up and kissed him.

'I love you.' She said.

'I love you too, girl.' He grinned.

Beth leant down and picked Nova up from the floor, resting her between the two of them. Daryl stroked her dark hair and the sun caught the new band on his finger and Beth felt her heart swell.

'Do I want to knew where you found two matching wedding bands?' She asked.

'Uh. Probably not.' He said.

Beth twisted the ring around her finger and smiled. The past was the past, and it never did any good to dwell. Years ago, Rick had once said that they were the walking dead, but as Beth stood out in the late afternoon sun, the new wedding band secure on her finger, her husband's arm wrapped safely around her waist and their thriving, beautiful daughter heavy in her arms, she knew that wasn't the case. They weren't dead – they weren't even just surviving – they were living, and making a life worth living.

No matter what happened next, Beth knew her place in the world, and it was right here beneath the sun with the family she had made for herself.