Author's Note:

Hello everyone! If you're like me, you felt a little broken or sad inside after the Walking Dead mid-season finale, right?

And, for those of you who haven't seen it yet, TURN BACK NOW. BE HAPPY WHILE YOU STILL CAN. IT WILL RIP YOUR HEART OUT.

This story is kinda-slightly-okay-really a bit of a spoiler.

But seriously.

Live in your happy-go-lucky world as long as you can. I knew I would regret watching this week's episode. I told myself I should just quit the walking dead while I was ahead.
This will be a multi-chapter story.
This chapter was specifically inspired by the finale and a little song by Hollywood Undead... (I don't know why... I haven't been able to get it out of my head all day now.)

"My legs are dangling off the edge,
The bottom of the bottle is my only friend,
I think I'll slit my wrists again,
And I'm gone, gone, gone, gone."

Keep Singing, Songbird

Chapter One:

Not so Gone

A broken sob escaped his lips as the only ray of light in his life was stolen from clouds of the darkest black, casting his fate into the eternal abyss of the night. Her pail body upon the floor, so frail... So broken... His perfect light, his angel... Tainted... Tainted by her own blood.

The crimson pool, crowding her body, was an unsettling contrast to her normally vibrant, cream-colored flesh. The very casing that always cast out an inviting glow... Was now tarnished. And he couldn't fix it. His darkened blue eyes showed the shattering soul lurking behind, threatening to break through the exterior of the grieving man. If they saw how broken he truly was... He didn't want to think about it.

The words of his leader were a jumbled blur as the shaggy-haired man dropped to his knees, not braving a look at the blood soaked face of the woman who had stolen his heart what seemed ages ago.

You're going to miss me so bad when I'm gone, Daryl Dixon.

Her words rang loud and true in his mind, stirring the sorrowful man at his core. There are no words to describe the hurt, the anguish, the-the despair that he felt. Nothing has ever come close enough to his heart to truly break him... Except her... Except Beth.

Sophia.

She wasn't his little girl, but he wasn't heartless. He put his life on the line for that little girl.

Merle.

His own brother. Of course it killed him a little inside, but he had already accepted at one point or another that he would never see his brother again, so it toughened him up. It couldn't take away the sting that happened when he came across his brother... Or, what was left of him, that is. However, it came as less of a shock.

Beth.

His blonde-haired, blue-eyed angel, his savior, his heart... Nothing could prepare him for losing her. It was as if his heart was savagely ripped from his chest. His very life force just seeped to the floor around him, pooling around her broken body. And he couldn't do a damn thing about it.

She was the only thing that kept him going in his time away from the group. She gave his life meaning. Beth was his purpose... And now she was gone, whisked away by the clutches of a dark witch.

Rick turned, tears cascading down his cheeks as he gazed down at their fallen warrior and their broken wingman. He softly placed his hand on Daryl's shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly. Nothing could ever prepare you for death, especially the death of a loved one.

Beth was more than just a girl. She was a sister, a fighter, a mother, a lover, a warrior-a never ending array of things. She deserved more than just this.

Everyone's eyes glazed over with tears as they gathered together, preparing to leave the hospital while Daryl just sat there, holding his lifeless princess. He was so numb and lost that he just sat there, feeling as if he was pushed over the edge into the void of insanity, and slamming against every crazy boulder along the way.

He heard a small puff. He had to have been hallucinating. For a split second, he thought he saw her chest rise and fall softly.

No, that's just ridiculous. It's a fantasy, a stupid hope. Something he couldn't afford to have... Not anymore. Crazily, he checked for a pulse...And...

Nothing.

Brokenly, shakily, dreadfully, he hoisted up the lolling doll in his arms, slowly standing up, attempting to not let his legs give out on him. He had to be strong.

Be strong for Beth.

Be strong for Maggie.

Be strong for Rick.

Be strong... For everyone.

With each step, he cried harder, silently sobbing and pleading to a higher power to send a miracle. Every step felt like he was stomping over his glass heart, the shards caving in and piercing the deepest core of himself as they rattled throughout his chest.

Following at a slow pace, he looked up, seeing Rick walk through the doors up ahead, followed by Sasha and Tyreese, Carol...

When he was met with the blinding light, it was even worse than expected. Maggie stood out there. He didn't know how or when she got there... But there she was. Instead of his steps breaking his heart, it was as if a sledgehammer had been taken to his chest, and, just as Maggie collapsed to the ground, Daryl did too, clasping the beauty to his chest as sobs wracked his frame.

A slight stir, a short huff of air, and finally, a little broken voice managed to call out, surprisingly being heard, even above his loud cries and pleas.

"D...ar...yl...?

And before anyone says anything about it "not being possible" have you actually READ the walking dead comics? Carl got full blown shot in the head. That kid STILL survived. So let's pretend this bullet just... grazed a bit? Okay? that will be covered next chapter... Just jumping the gun before flamers do C:

and please pardon any mistakes

I wrote this hastily and without a beta...