Disclaimer: A nod to the genius Robert Kirkman for creating this wonderfully dark, post-apocalyptic world. I do not own or have rights to any of the characters/plot of this series. I'm simply a fan indulging in my post-apocalyptic fantasies.

Prompt # 100: Monster(s)

Monsters had always been a constant presence in his life. When he was young, it was his father, as he aged it was Merle, until he was a grown man and had become a monster himself. He had no goal in life. He drifted with Merle, when Merle was out of prison, then fought and stole to survive while he died a little more inside every day. Then the apocalypse ravaged the earth and the real monsters emerged.

"You wanna' stop and take a break?" Beth's voice broke through his reverie.

"Ya' tired?" He glanced at her through the fringe of his shaggy hair.

"A bit," she smiled sheepishly up at him.
She had told him that he had changed. That he had 'gotten away' from the lifestyle he lead when he was with Merle. She told him he was a good man. He thrived in the apocalypse because his world before wasn't much different, minus the walking corpses.

What he hadn't told her was that he would do whatever it took to keep that smile on her face. Anything in his power to shield her from the horrors that surrounded them. Everything he could to keep her from experiencing the guilt and remorse of having to take another person's life. She had given his existence purpose.

Daryl would become the worst kind of monster as long as it kept her safe.

A/N: So in order to keep you guys occupied while the Walking Dead isn't on AND to give me time to get my creative juices working on the second part of my trilogy, I decided to try my hand at drabbles. I've never written them before and I thought it'd be fun to see the little snippets of how I think Daryl and Beth got so close in regards to their relationship in my story. We didn't get much of a time frame in season four so I could justifiably believe they were together for a month or two before they got separated. Being together with someone day and night, in the apocalypse, anyone would get close to their companion. Add the fact that Beth and Daryl had already known each other for over a year (going by the seasons since no definite time has ever been established), they're already familiar with each other. They would just build from that and get to know each other more intimately; as I will express in these drabbles! : )

If you're new to my page, then feel free to check out 'For the Ones You Love,' my first part of a three part series with Daryl and Beth. It's my take on what I would have liked to have seen happen with Beth after she was kidnapped.

XOXO