We head up to the roof, watching for the cop cars that we know will be coming any minute now. Rick is already down by the road, waiting.

Sasha and Tyreese discuss quietly while we wait. Shepherd keeps looking towards Daryl and I, her expression hard to read.

"You're really pregnant?" she asks finally.

I look up at her, nodding slowly. I feel Daryl's hand tense from its spot on my waist, and I stroke his leg soothingly.

"I found out a day or two ago," I say.

She bites her lip, shifting a little on her knees. "I had a sister, before this. She was pregnant, but she lost it." She smiles sadly. "I hope that isn't your experience."

Daryl looks down at me, giving my forehead a soft kiss as I thank her softly.

"Once we get 'em back, I'd like you and Beth to sing a duet again," he whispers.

I smile in response. He gets up and moves to the edge of the building with Sasha, pulling out his rifle and holding it up, waiting with his arms taut, his breaths slow and concentrated.

I lean back, placing my hand on my stomach. It still seems surreal, for me to be pregnant. I didn't think it would happen, especially since the world ended and such. Having a child is a good thing, and nothing good seemed to come out of the end of humanity's reign over the planet.

Of course, I didn't expect to fall in love with a redneck either.

Daryl snaps his fingers, and we perk up. Noah hands Tyreese a radio.

"They're headed towards the vantage point," he reports.

We hear the radio static hissing before Rick's grainy voice fights through. "Okay. Copy that."

I get up and head to the wall, watching as the car stops in front of Rick. We're too far away to hear the words, but we all know he's telling these two officers about Shepherd and Licari, and how we'll exchange them for Carol, Beth, and some medical stuff for me and my unborn baby.

I raise my rifle, peering through it, one of the cop's head in the crosshairs of the scope. I lower it again once I get a look at their expressions. It must be going okay.

After a little bit, Rick backs away and the cops climb into the car, not driving away yet. Even later after that, the radio hisses.

"Come on down. Trade is go," Rick says, his voice crackling over the static.

"Copy that," Tyreese says.

Daryl and Sasha lower their rifles and we help the officers to their feet as we head down to the ground.

I cross my fingers, praying silently. Let's hope this goes well.

----------

We climb up the stairs at Grady Memorial Hospital, leading Licari and Shepherd as we go. We get to a hallway that's blocked off with a set of doors. Through the tiny windows we can see a gathering of other cops, a doctor, and some wards.

"Holster your weapons," a feminine voice says through our radio.

"You too," Rick says.

We all shoulder and holster what weapons we have and shove the doors open, coming face to face with our two missing group members and the woman who kept them here. The two cops go back to their people, and we stay.

Dawn looks like how I imagined she would. Her sleek black hair is pulled back in a low bun and her blue grey eyes look fierce, although sort of demanding and scary all at the same time. I'm taller then her by about three inches, so I don't feel very intimidated.

"They haven't been harmed," Rick says.

"Where's Lamson?" Dawn asks.

"Rotters got him," Shepherd says.

"We saw it go down," Licari seconds.

"Oh..." Dawn whispers. "I'm sorry to hear that. He was one of the good guys." There's a pause, and she composes herself. "One of yours for one of mine."

"All right," Rick says. He nods to Daryl and Licari.

"Move," Daryl commands.

They move forwards and someone pushes Carol's wheelchair to us. Daryl walks forwards and takes it once they reach the halfway point. They return to us, and I grasp Carol's hand, smiling. She smiles up at me, squeezing my hand in response.

One down, one to go.

As soon as that switcheroo is done, Dawn brings Beth forwards and Rick brings Shepherd. They make the trade, and Rick places a kiss on Beth's forehead.

I give her a quick hug, and she smiles at me.

"Hey Beth," I say softly.

"I told Daryl he would find you," she whispers.

Daryl smiles at her and gives her a quick hug.

"Glad we could work things out," Dawn says from her position in the middle of the hallway.

"Yeah," Rick replies.

We turn to leave, and I almost cheer at the simple, non-murderous encounter. I don't even care about not getting the meds. We're safe.

"Now I just need Noah," Dawn says. We freeze. "And then you can leave."

"That wasn't part of the deal," Rick says fiercely, turning to face her.

"Noah was my ward. Beth took his place and I'm losing her, so I need him back," she argues.

"Ma'am, please, it's not-" Shepherd starts.

"Shepherd!"

She shuts up, shooting us a sympathetic glance.

"My officers put their lives on the line to find him. One of them died," Dawn says.

"No, he ain't stayin'," Daryl growls.

"He's one of mine. You have no claim on him," she says curtly.

"The boy wants to go home, so you have no claim on him," Rick counters.

"Well, then we don't have a deal."

"The deal is done."

"It's okay," Noah says.

"No. No," Rick says, holding his arm out to stop him.

Noah walks up beside him, turning to face him.

"I've got to do it."

He hands Rick the pistol in his belt, pursing his lips as he glances back at us. I keep myself back, although I want him to stay.

"It's not okay," Beth says.

"It's settled," Dawn says.

As Noah starts to walk away, Beth calls to him, "Wait!"

She limps towards him and embraces him tightly. Noah smiles weakly, returning it.

"It's okay," he murmurs.

"I knew you'd be back." Dawn smirks.

Beth releases Noah slowly, looking at her with what I can only imagine is venom in her eyes. She moves towards the superior officer, her posture straight and her steps determined.

In that moment, I know what has changed. This isn't the Beth that cut herself and wanted to die at the farm. This is the survivor Beth that will stop at nothing to help those she loves.

"I get it now," she says.

There's a moment of tense silence before a pair of scissors enters Dawn's shoulder. The next moment, a gunshot goes off and the back of Beth's head reveals a gunshot wound as a spray of blood splatters to the clean floor. The shot rings in my ears, and I am frozen for a split second.

She collapses to the floor, and Dawn stares in horror at the gun in her hand. My mouth falls open.

We were so close.

Not close enough.

Daryl races forwards, whipping out his gun as Dawn shakes her head in a panic. A second shot rings out and a blossom of blood appears on her forehead, dropping her to the ground.

Guns are produced and clicks sound through the hallway.

"No! Hold your fire!" Shepherd commands. "It's over. It was just about her. Stand down."

Daryl's hand shakes, his lip beginning to tremble as he stares at Beth's fallen form. I move forwards, and he turns, pressing his face into my shoulder as he starts to cry. I fail in biting back tears, and they start to roll down my face as I hold him. His arms clutch me to him in a comfortable death grip, as if he may lose me yet today.

"You were gonna sing together. You were..." he cries, his whole body shaking.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, meeting Carol's gaze. Rick's face twists with grief as he lowers his gun. He looks to me, then Daryl, then back to Beth.

"You can stay," Shepherd says. "We're surviving here. It's better than out there. It'll be safe for when she has her baby."

She points to me, and Carol looks at me with utter shock written all over her face. I don't say anything, too focused on my husband to care.

"No," Rick says. After a long pause, he looks up. "And I'm taking anyone back here who wants to leave. If you want to come with us just step forward now."

No one does, and Shepherd motions to a man wearing glasses and a white lab coat. He nods and shuffles to us, holding a backpack out to us.

"Medicine...for her," he says, looking to me.

Rick takes it, nodding in thanks to Shepherd and the doctor.

Daryl pulls away from me, and I wipe away his tears gently. He takes a deep breath as he turns to face them again.

He moves forwards and lifts Beth up, carrying her slowly away as Rick leads us out, Noah following.

We get out of the hospital, back into the bright sunlight. A fire truck sits on the road, and we can see Abraham, Rosita, Tara, Glenn, Maggie, Michonne, and Carl walking towards us. Gabriel and Eugene are nowhere in sight. Maggie's face falls as she sees Rick, and as soon as she catches sight of Daryl and I, Beth cradled in his arms, she screams and collapses, crying her sister's name over and over again as she pounds the ground in agony.

Daryl and I keep walking, our feet heavy. Maggie sobs and Glenn comforts her.

Daryl lowers Beth to the ground, sinking to his knees. I kneel next him, and he pulls me against his chest again.

"I said she'd never see Maggie again, when I was drunk," he cries softly. "I didn't want to be right...I didn't..."

I choke and keep holding him as the group mourns the loss of our friend and family member.