Beth started out the day giving Gracie a bath, since she had puked sometime during the night. Daryl had gone out hunting and wouldn't be back until much later, so it was just her and the baby today.

The day was another scorcher, a good 90 degrees at least. Everyone was in shorts and loose shirts, a few were even in their swim suits. There wasn't a pool or swimming hole yet, they simply just opted on something that didn't make them sweat. Beth considered it, but didn't feel like rifling around for it.

After Gracie's bath, Beth dressed her in a t-shirt onesie and a frilly yellow hat, smothered the baby in sunblock and made her way downstairs. The house was bustling with people, coming and going from meetings with Maggie. Some liked to joke she was the Godfather, others wouldn't joke about it.

Beth knocked on the den door and pushed it open, the drab room had wet sheets hanging in front of the windows and a fan in the corner. It made it at least 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the house.

"Morning." Maggie greeted with a smile.

Beth smiled."Morning. How'd you sleep?"

"Terrible. The baby kept kicking and when I finally started to fall asleep, he laid right on my bladder."

Beth snickered."I'm sorry."

Maggie sighed."It's almost over, only a month to go."

"I know." Beth took a seat across from Maggie.

The eldest Greene leaned forward and folded her hands on the desk."How'd your first night go?"

"Good. Although, she did puke, so I had to give her a bath."

Maggie smiled."I heard that Daryl stayed the night with you?"

Beth swallowed thickly."Well yeah, we played cards half the night and talked...it was nice."

"Things are getting pretty serious between you two, huh?" She questioned, though she already had an idea.

"Not in that way." She blushed.

Maggie quirked a brow."So you haven't slept with him yet?"

"No."

"Well he does like you, that much we all know."

Beth blushed again."I know that too."

It wasn't a secret that she and Daryl had feelings for each other, it was hard to deny anything after the funeral home. Noah noticed it after they found Carol and Daryl in an office building. He wouldn't even let Beth go long enough so Carol could hug her, and when they got back to the church where the others were, he barely even let her out of his sight.

"How does he feel about you taking on Gracie?"

"He said I was right for the job and that I was doing the right thing."

Maggie nodded and sipped her lemonade."Have you guys talked about raising her together?"

"No, not yet. I didn't really wanna go that far last night."

"Hopefully you'll at least talk about it."

"I am...when he gets back, I guess." She nodded.

Maggie leaned back in the chair and rested her hand over her swollen belly."Daddy would be so proud of you."

"You think?"

"Of course, you've grown so much since the farm. That's all Daddy ever wanted for us, but for you especially."

She frowned."Too bad he isn't around to see us."

"He's around."

Both Maggie and Beth shared a smile, though there was more pain behind it than joy.

Beth left shortly after their conversation and walked outside, dropping her sunglasses down on her face. She spotted Noah and Christine down by the grill, chatting with Carol, Carl and Judith. Jerry and Michael stood at the gates, watching the children play tag in the field.

It was a nice thing to hear and see first thing in the morning, instead of walkers trying to claw their way inside the place. She walked over to the trailer where Daryl was staying, he said he left something on his bed for her.

The trailer was like all the others, except his wasn't decorated like the others. Plain bedding, a plaid couch and a desk in the corner, and a few clothes strewn on the floor. Other than that the trailer screamed empty. She walked over to his bed and plopped down, sticking out from the pillow was a sliver chain. She lifted the pillow and smiled.

"...Daryl." She picked up the silver heart locket and rubbed her thumb over it."He's too much Gracie."

The baby cooed as she tried grabbing for the locket, Beth giggled and kissed the baby's cheek. She stood up stuffing the locket in her front pocket, before making her way back outside. She was starved and she was sure Gracie was too.

Daryl hated having to train these newbies, but he wasn't going to do this forever. Not that he didn't like hunting, he loved it actually, he was just tired. His body ached everyday but he pushed himself to do his part, because nobody else would. Now he had seven people who were willing to learn, but of course it wasn't easy, they were dumber than a five pound sack of potatoes.

For starters, some of them didn't even know how to shoot properly, so that was a whole other can of worms. Secondly, they didn't know how to be quiet and were attracting walkers, which of course, scared off any game they were trying to hunt.

"Uh, let's call it a day, head back." Daryl announced, irritated.

Brad and the rest agreed, all congratulating each other on a job well done, when in fact nothing was done. All they managed to rustle up was walkers, when they had a community of people depending on them for dinner. He prayed they still had enough meat to get them through tonight and tomorrow.

"So Beth huh?"

Daryl glared at the tall, lanky kid."What about her?"

He shook his head."She's pretty. Is she your wife?"

Daryl bit the inside of his cheek."Somethin' like that."

"Damn." He heaved a sigh."I didn't think Brad was right, but he swore it. He even said you two had a baby, I didn't believe it cause she's so young, but dammed if he isn't right."

Daryl fell silent as he listened to the man jabber on about Beth and Gracie, hoping like hell he'd shut up, but he knew better. Thomas was talkative, Brad warned him when they first arrived. He also warned him that he had a crush on Beth.

"...I don't mean to ask so many questions, but when did you guys get married?"

"A while ago." Daryl scanned around them, trying to tune Thomas out.

"Oh. I guess Brad was right about that too." He mumbled.

Daryl turned to him and shoved him up against the nearest tree."Shut the fuck up! You wanna get us all killed out here?"

Thomas held up his hands."I-I'm...I'm s-sorry man."

"Lesson one." Daryl snarled, releasing his shirt collar.

Thomas slumped to the base of the tree, as Daryl stomped off towards the truck. The others stayed quiet and parted the way for him, afraid that he may have another outburst. Once he reached the truck he jumped in the drivers seat, while the others took to the bed of the truck, all afraid to sit inside with Daryl. Quite frankly, he preferred it that way, he had more time to think about what he was going to do.

"Takin' on too much lil' brother, might as well take that pretty blonde and leave. Officer friendly ain't done shit for you."

"Douchebag." He muttered under his breath, as Merle's voice echoed through his head.

Poor Daryl lol

Okay so I really really want to thank everyone who reviewed and messaged me, it means so much!

Fair warning, Thomas is going to be bit of a problem throughout the story, or more like a pain in the ass haha

I hope you enjoyed the chapter, sorry it took a while, I've been so busy working and trying to save up money so I can fix my car. Ugh.

Xoxo