AN: so last chapter :) let me know what you think

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 16

Carol had invited him back to her "place". She was staying at the apartment over the garage. Abe had married a woman named Sasha a few years ago and now had his own house. Carol had said that Abe would have been more than happy to have her stay with them but she wasn't sure how long she was planning to stay in town, and she needed somewhere to paint, her own space.

She still painted regularly. She said it was her stress relief especially in the high stress environment she'd decided to throw herself into after medical school. She'd even had a few exhibitions, some of her pieces had sold of African landscapes.

He sat in the apartment, a cup of coffee in her hand watching her face as she told him all the experiences she'd had in the past few years. The passion she'd felt working in medical clinics for those who truly needed her. The beautiful face he had dreamed of so many nights. He tried to convince himself all over again that he'd made the right choice all those years ago. She wouldn't have had those experiences. She would have given it all up for him. He hadn't thought he was worth it back then he still wasn't sure.

"You going back?" He asked hoarsely when she was silent for a moment. What the hell was wrong with his voice? He felt like he couldn't breathe.

She looked at him an odd expression on her face, setting her coffee cup on the coffee table, she swung her legs up onto the couch they were sitting on and tucked them under her. Biting her nail softly she smiled. "No, no I'm not...can I tell you a story?"

"Yeah," he whispered confused.

She smiled, leaning forward and took his hand, cradling it in both of her. Daryl felt shivers wrack his body as she fixed him with that intense stare.

"There once was a girl, who left her hometown after her handsome prince had hurt her, very badly, with a wicked witch." She smirked, but Daryl felt a pang of pain in his gut. He'd never wanted to hurt her, that more than anything had killed him all these years.

"The girl went to a new magical land called New York. Determine to let go all the memories she had of the handsome prince. She worked very hard at her schooling and succeeded in becoming a doctor, but she found that she just couldn't let go of those memories." She squeezed his hand.

"She knew the prince had not meant to hurt her. She wondered if he was under a spell from the wicked witch, she knew one thing for certain. That wasn't him. So it was hard to let go, she waited, for so long...but the Prince never came back to her."

Daryl's eyes flew up to hers watching as tears trailed down her cheeks her eyes smiling softly. She squeezed his hand.

"She couldn't let the memories of her perfect prince go, and he never came back to her. She decided to go to a faraway land to help the people there. She had amazing experiences. Saw things she could never forget. But still something was missing. A doctor from a magical land named Canada was also there. He wanted the girl to marry him, but she couldn't because although it had been years. Her heart was still with her prince." His chest was heaving now. Watching her eye contact. The way her eyes caressed his face softly.

"Then one day, a group of missionaries from a church group arrived. Imagine the girls surprise to find the wicked witch Beth as part of the group, and that she was no longer wicked. The wicked witch's father had passed away, and made her reevaluate her life. Made Beth see the error of her ways. Beth was dedicate to helping people...and fixing past mistakes." She whispered bringing his hands up to her mouth and kissing them softly.

"One night Beth showed up the girls door, explaining what had happened on that night so many years ago when, the girl had been hurt so badly." Carol smiled taking his palm and covering her cheek with his hand. Turning her face she kissed his palm that was shaking.

"Beth said the prince had never moved on either, that he had always seemed sad since that night. That he always reminded Beth of a famous quote that was a favourite of her father's -If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were...The girl realized at that moment she always belonged to the prince, and it was time to come back to her home." Carol said with a smile. She was on her knees beside him. Daryl couldn't control the shaking that seemed to be wracking his body. A tear slipped down his cheek.

"The girl came back to town, and found out the prince's brother was sick. It didn't seem like the right time to approach him. But she just couldn't wait much longer she had to know." She cupped his cheek. "If the prince still felt the same way about her too." Daryl let out a half growl half sob and suddenly he couldn't stop himself, grabbing her. He pulled her onto his lap straddling him, his arms came around her waist. She placed her hands on his cheeks, smiling at him so tenderly it took her breathe away. "So the girls crazy friend arranged for her to teach a cpr class where the prince would be. The rest was up to the girl.."

Words seemed to be impossible at that moment. This had to be dream. The best dream he'd ever had. He couldn't hold himself back, tears were flowing freely down his face. She was wiping them with her fingers. "I ain't no prince.." he choked out and she laughed, the most beautiful laugh he'd ever heard then kissed him softly.

"You always were to me.."

He was done in, gut shot. Completely done in. Burying his face in her neck, he held on to her so tightly he was sure she was having trouble breathing. "I'm so sorry..." he mumbled over and over again.

She was rubbing his back, shushing him softly. "I'm sorry too, sorry you didn't know that you were always part of my dreams. Med school, Africa, painting, All of that was amazing but it was missing something. It was missing you. It was missing you...you always thought what happened to you made you broken...I think life breaks you... little by little. You just need to find your glue, that holds you together. You're my glue."

"I never stopped loving you.." he whispered afraid to look at her face. His lips running along her neck.

She pulled back looking into his eyes "I love you too." She smirked "Even if you suck at cpr.."

He barked out a laugh pulling her into him, flipping her on the couch staring down at her in amazement. His heart so full he thought it might burst. He smiled as he pressed his lips to hers, it didn't matter anymore he had his glue.

Xxxx

The end

Xxxxx

Thanks for reading, this one took longer to complete...mid story writers block hit hard. I like how this last chapter turned out, and yes I redeemed Beth in the end( you're welcome or sorry depending on your thoughts on this lol)

Please review one last time