New Beginnings *6 years later* (December)

Sherry was the one confused now.

Beth isn't here. We thought she was with you.

And more confusion...

"I...asked Dwight to bring her here...Has she been here?"

Now Carl was beginning to get concerned about Beth. If they had asked her to watch Abby, he couldn't see her leaving..unless something hapoened..

And Dwight was sick? He did remember that he seemed short of breath when he came to check on Logan, but figured it was the cold...


"Is he okay?"

Sherry looked down at her feet and shook her head. Cancer. She said quietly. She looked back up at Carl and took a deep breath.

We're hoping Mikko's blood can save him. I'm sure everything will be ok. We just have to stay positive.

Carl was taken aback by the news. Cancer. Something that used to be common before the world died, but this was the first case this community had to deal with.

"I'm sorry..." And hearing that they were hopeful that Mikko could help, he gave a nod. Hopefully she could. Sherry and Dwight had had it rough...they didn't deserve this...


"Let me know if you two need anything. Give Dwight my best. "

"Yeah, I'm sure she's fine..." He tried to convince himself, anyway. "Get some rest." And with that, Carl left and headed for his home, hoping and saying a silent prayer that Beth would be at home....

Sherry said her good byes and locked back up. She headed back to bed and slid back in bed after taking off her robe and snuggled back up next to Dwight. Finally she could get some sleep.

Beth would be asleep through her whole ordeal. lucky for her. Plans had changed. They were not bringing her to Sanctuary. They were going to use the woman to send a message.

The three men pulled straws to see who was actually going to do the deed. No one was ready to actually behead the girl. But it was what the boss wanted. Beth didn't see her death coming nor did she feel it. But no one at Tree Top would know that. Her head was placed on top of a spike that was placed in the ground outside of Tree top.

Her body would be buried elsewhere.

Feeling a bit disgusted, the men reported that it was done and finally headed home...

Carl returned home, body welcoming the warmth of the place... the familiar scents that lingered... his usual happy place among chaos. He had hoped the entire trek here, and did something he normally did not do...prayed that Beth would be home, waiting for him...

..after the chaos of tonight, he needed to see that warn smile, hear her encouraging words, but he would not be greeted by any of that...


"Beth?" He called out, heading for the bedroom. The door squeaked on its hinges as he pushed it open. Gaze fixating on the bed, his heart sank when he did not see her...


He continued searching the house, calling out for her, but there would be no answer...

Braving the cold once again, he continued the search, going from house to house, exhausting...no one had seen her. No one knew anything...

..his anxiety and desperation began to build...


[color=green]"BETH!!"[/green] He screamed, and continued to do so every few minutes, lungs protesting against the cold. The winds were becoming unrelenting, but he continued. He could not go back until she was safe in his arms...


He could hardly make out the guard as he rushed towards him. Pulling his pistol just in case, his defensive posture easing when he realized who it was... but seeing the man's horrified expression had Carl on high alert..


" Just.. just outside the ..the gates. The clearing... Negan.. he ..." And he could not finish...


The anxiety and fear building, Carl rushed towards the gate, the guard chasing behind him...

"Carl, don't!" The man shouted... "Let someone else!"

...but Carl was zoned out, could not register words right now...


The guards reluctantly opened the gates for the leader, silent, disgusted, heartbroken, afraid...and no one could prepare Carl for what he would find...

..his life was about to change...forever.


The wind and blistering snow made it hard to see at first. Approaching, his stride slowed...


Her long blonde hair whisping in the wind...

He felt numb..almost freezing in place. A..head on a pike, but..still not close enough to see who it was, but he felt it in his gut, in his soul. Hands trembling from more than just the elements now, feeling hot despite the freezing air..

He stepped closer...not prepared for what ..who...had been placed on that pike for him to find...


His eyes locked with her now lifeless, hazy gaze...eyes that used to be so full of life and love. Her head reanimated, still.. her expression sad as she growled, chewed, chomped...


...it was.... Beth...his Beth, the love of his life. His soul mate, and...she was...gone..

"No.. " His tone almost a whisper at first, a single, hot tear rolled down his cheek as it began to sink in. His body shook uncontrollably..legs buckling and he soon found himself on his knees...


"Nonono..PLEASE NO!" His scream cut through the eerie silence. The tears now uncontrollable, his happy moments with her flashing in his mind like a taunting slideshow.. a life he would never know again....


"Beth.. please.. please don't...leave me..."

Little Noah was brave for sure, approaching Michonne when she was still angry. It may have not been his idea to leave, but he would take the blame if that meant Sandy wouldn't be it trouble.

'I'm sorry.' He signed, and hugged her leg, then headed back over to his parents. He wanted nothing more than to sleep in Sandy's room with her, but wasn't sure if Michonne would allow that.


Glenn pulled Noah into his lap and hugged him. He was upset that he ran off without telling someone, but he was softer than Michonne...softer than Maggie.


'Don't ever do that again, okay? You scared us. Bad people found us...they will hurt you if they find you, so please don't ever do that again.' Glenn had no way of knowing that something horrible had taken place right outside the gates.

Noah frowned and hugged his dad. 'I won't.'

Glenn spared a small smile. 'Thank you, buddy. Now, you should get some sleep.'


Noah poured at that, fighting back a yawn as he did so. He spared another glance in the direction of Sandy's room, hoping that his best friend was okay and not too upset. Maybe Michonne would cool down and not be so hard on her...

Glenn helped Noah get settled down on the pallet of blankets that Michonne had provided them with, tucking him in with a kiss against his forehead. His attention then shifted to Maggie, knowing she wanted to stay awake to watch over Logan, and the meeting that was supposed to take place when Carl returned...

Scooting closer to Maggie, he wrapped an arm around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. She had been really quiet.


"You okay?"

Michonne patted Noah on the head. The kids were little spit fires for sure. And she feared keeping them safe would only get harder as they got older. She walked back to Glenn and Maggie. I think it's time for that meeting. I'm going to go fetch Daryl and Carl and tell them all that it's getting late and we would like to sleep at some point.

She headed out the door after pulling on her coat.

She found out quickly that Daryl was with the prisoners. So she was headed that way when she was stopped by one of the guards.

Michonne. I think...Carl needs you. Outside the gates Negan, he...It's bad. The guard new of the relationship Michonne had with Carl and thought it best that she go to him to comfort him, it wasn't good for Carl to be alone out there.

Having no idea what was going on, Michonne abandon her search for Daryl and hurried to Carl. She was no prepared for what she saw.

Negan had killed Beth and made sure that Carl would find her. The sick bastard!

She slowly walked to Carl and knelt down beside him placing a hand on his back. She didn't say anything, just allowed him to seek comfort in her if he wanted it.

Maggie also placed a smooch against Noah's cheek and made sure he was all tucked in. She was upset and like Michonne was concerned about how hard it would be to keep them safe as they got older.

I'm ok. Just tired.This meeting needs to happen soon before I fall asleep. I have to be well rested for when we go to Sanctuary and kill all those bastards.

Carl instinctively jerked away when he felt the contact against his shoulder. Through his tears, seeing Michonne lowered his defenses..


The guard was right, Carl did not need to be alone right now... not un this moment when his entire world had come crushing down...

Words could not be formed through the heart breaking sobs, his arms wrapping around Michonne's neck, face burying against her. Completely broken and seeking comfort in his mother figure's arms. He felt as if he released her, he would completely fall apart.

Michonne held him tightly, hand rubbing his back attempting to sooth him but knowing nothing she did would help in this moment.

WE'll make them pay for this. For everything. She said quietly.

But I don't want you thinking about going after him alone. Wait until we can form a plan and end this for good.

Daryl could hear Carl's cry, faint from the distance, but something was wrong. Pulling his crossbow from his shoulder, it seemed like an interrogation would have to wait...

He was met right outside the holding facility by one of the guards, knowing it was going to take great forces to stop Carl from doing something rash.


"It's Negan...he...it's bad..." The man could not finish.


Heart beating wildly within the confines of his chest, Daryl rushed through the gates, slowing when he saw Carl crumpled on the ground in a heap, sobbing...Michonne trying to comfort him....


Hearing the moans and snarling, Daryl's gaze slowly traveled up, taking in the horrors...


Beth...their sweet Beth...Negan had killed her...

Hot tears burned at the redbeck's eyes, but he didn't try to stop them. His heart shattered...there had been a special spot in his heart for Hershel's youngest daughter. She had been so full of life and hopefulness and always found ways to lift their spirits
..and now...she was...gone...


Sorrow and anger nearly crippled him, but he made his way to the pike, lip quivering as he aimed his crossbow at Beth's reanimated head, a moments hesitation as he pulled the trigger, sending an arrow through her temple, damaging the brain....silencing her forever.

Michonne didn't even realize Daryl was there with them until he slienced Beth. She looked up tearfully at the man then back at Carl.

Come on. We have to get out of the cold and out of the open. We'll send someone for her body for a proper burial.

Lilo had been halfway through a grin and to Ally, " well where I come from we sometimes and do at the moment have two little ones ready for adop -" Their parents or guardians dead and recently passed the quarantine phase.


Her voice dying away and she hears the heart breaking sounds, gesturing for Stitch and the two move towards the gates. Both looking through - watching. Stitchs ears drooping and his huge eyes filling with tears. Lilo didn't bother hiding her own.


Beth...


Sweet and enduringly endearing Beth.

Carl held Michonne for tbe longest time, releasing all of the sorrow and anguish....last of him trying to convince himself that this was not real...it was all one horrible nightmare that threatened to crush him...


..but deep down, he knew better. This was all so painfully real. Another chapter in his life had painfully came to an end, and he couldn't imagine the rest if his story without Beth by his side....


"Get...get her down from there..." Saryl barely managed to instruct a guard that loomed nearby, wanting to help, but not sure how...


"Find....find her...her body. " Because he knew the Saviors would have left her close. They needed to take her home...they needed to lay Beth to rest.

Carl knew that Michonne was talking to him, but so full of emotional and feeling in a haze, her words sounded submerged, so distant, even though he was still within her embrace...

Abruptly pulling away, he somehow made it to his feet, legs feeling incredibly shaky, threatening to buckle...

Grabbing his pistol from its holster, he began walking away from the crowd, away from the gates and his community..


Daryl, knowing exactly where Carl was going, placed himself in front of him.. "You have to go back... warn your community what's about to go down. Yer in no condition to go after him...I'll take care of him...."

When Carl got to his feet Michonne was quick to her feet as well. She knew that he would go after Negan and it was going to be hard to convince him to get back in those gates. She was thankful that she had Daryl there...At first. But then hearing that Daryl wanted to go after Negan...

Nether one of you are going after him. Both of you are staying at TreeTop. You can't take on all of Santcuary alone. We need everyone. And we don't know if Negan is planing another attack tonight. You both are needed here.

Lexi smiled at Laz' compliments, returning tbe kiss, humming happily as he caressed her back. "Well, he has a pretty amazing daddy, too." Be abuse Laz would always be her son's father.


Blissfully unaware of the happenings outside the gate, and the fact that her son was missing, she was enjoying this moment with her husband. Running a finger gingerly along his side, her lips left a trail of kisses down the length of his neck and down his chest.

Daryl looked at Michonbe, deep down, knowing she was right. As much as he wanted to run after and put an end to the asshole, Negan was probably close, hiding...waiting for his moment.


His gaze shifted to Carl, hands holding to his shoulders, trying to make eye contact. Carl seemed to be in a trance, one thing on his mind...finding and putting an end to Negan.

"She's right. That asshole is probably waitin' for us to run off so he can move in and attack. I know yer hurtin', man. We all are...but we gotta make sure our people are ready..."


Choking back his sobs, Carl's gaze fixated with Daryl, then drifted to Michonne, knowing they were right. As much as he wanted to end Negan now, he knew this was the reaction The Savior's leader wanted. To draw them away, and move in for a massacre....


Finally, a small nod, and his shaky hand lowered his pistol into its holster. Lips quivering, he didn't trust his voice just yet, the grief too thick... but things could not be put on hold. Every second was life or death...


"Round up... the rest of the council. Send them to Daryl's..." He instructed Aaron, who had joined the guards that were trying to secure the area. With a nod, Aaron headed back inside the gates to make his rounds.

And now, Carl's gaze drifted to the men that were working tirelessly to retrieve Beth's remains...

"Please.... bring her home..."

Michonne was thankful that both guys understood the need to not rush into anything without a plan. She was worried there for a bit, that Carl would run off anyway and she would have to chase after him.

Putting an arm around the boy she gave him a squeeze then lead them back inside the gates dreading having to tell Maggie what had happen.

She walked back to her and Daryl's place and climbed up to the front door taking a deep breath before opening it and walking in. She sat next to Maggie and Glenn silently not knowing how to break the news or even if she should be the one to do it. So for now she was quiet.

And even after all these years, Michonne still felt like a mom to Carl. There was comfort in her closeness. The sons becoming quieter as the emotional exhaustion set in. He had never hurt so deeply. It was excruciating.

Daryl, following beside the two, spotted Lilo and Stitch. He could see that they has witnessed the horrible scene, the emotions and tears....he wished this could have been a pleasant visit for them, but at least the two had been around to help.


"I'm sure Carl will want you at the meetin'" He told the two, giving Lilo's shoulder a squeeze in passing..


The trek back to his house was long, the trip mostly quiet, save for the quiet sobs. Fortunately they made it back without incident, but Carl hesitated before climbing up to the porch. He knew what awaited him. He would have to tell the others what had happened. The thought of telling Judith and Maggie was suffocating.


Daryl also stalled, knowing Carl needed a moment, but too afraid to leave him alone, so he stayed back, too.. waiting on the young leader to compose himself.

Inside the house, Glenn smiled seeing Michonbe, but it quickly melted away seeing her expression, and...she had been crying??

And then Carl and Daryl entered. Carl was an emotional mess, and Daryl had been crying, too. Now, Glenn was worried. Carl, Daryl...hell, even Michonne never cried....


"What's going on?" Glenn finally asked, knowing it had to be bad.