I have been hearing a lot of things about not posting chapters, and I was the victim of that because this one never came up on the listing for Beth/Daryl stories. (I know this because I am a fanfic addict and check for updates all the time). I really like this one so I am posting it again. Sorry for those who did read it and might have got an alert for a new chapter. I will have the new one up tomorrow, but I want to make sure this is available first!

Okay, I'll stop now. Thanks for reading! On to the story!

Chapter One

So while writing my other Beth/Daryl story this came about. This is what I spent my winter break doing and I have like 10 chapters.

As always I own nothing, and I hope you like it! I am still nervous about writing for a new fandom and characters.

Daryl got the phone call on a Tuesday morning. He was sleeping soundly when the loud ringing woke him up. His girlfriend next to him groaned for him to turn it off and put the pillow over her head. Their kid had refused to go to sleep last night and Beth had spent half the night trying to get him to calm down. He was stubborn like his mama.

"What?" Daryl croaked into the phone.

"Baby brother!" The voice on the other line said. Daryl stiffened. He had not heard that voice in over five years. Not since Merle got caught dealing drugs to some undercover cops. Not to mention all the unpaid DUI's and missed court appearances Merle had. Daryl had gone to the trial, but they sentenced Merle to 7 years offering parole in 5. In those five years Daryl had made quite a different life for himself. He and Merle had lived off Merle's drug money before. Now that it was gone Daryl had to do something different. He wasn't good at much. Excelling at hunting and tracking weren't exactly qualities an employer looked for. Still he was strong and took orders relatively well. Daryl ended up getting hired at a construction company. He had always been good with his hands. Very good as Beth would say.

That was how he met Beth. He was hired to work on her father's barn that had been wrecked during a storm. Beth brought all the guys something to drink, but she would always stop and talk to him. Daryl to this day didn't know why. Beth had only been 17 at the time, which was a lot younger than his 32 years. On her 18th birthday she walked right up to him and asked him out to dinner.

Daryl swore he stopped breathing. He noticed her father watching, and the man gave him a hint of a smile. Was this his version of saying he approved? Approved of a young girl going out with a man nearly half her age? Sure Hershel was older than his wife, about the same age difference as Daryl and Beth, but Daryl wasn't the type Daddy's like. Yeah, he had stopped and looked at his other daughter Maggie's car when it started making a weird noise, and refused the money Hershel tried to give him when Daryl fixed it. And maybe he might have talked with his son Shawn about hunting and sports, but it was no more than anyone else. Okay, so he did carry Beth on his back when he found her with a twisted ankle about half a mile away from the farm. But he still didn't understand why Hershel liked him.

He said yes. He was too shocked to say no. Beth didn't look surprised at all, even though Daryl sure the hell was that he agreed. He had never really gone on a date with a girl before. Screwed a couple, but never an actually date. The date didn't go that well. Daryl had no idea what to say to her, but Beth kept up the conversation for the both of them. Then she asked him out again and Daryl was still too shocked to refuse. Not when a pretty girl still wants to spend time with him.

After that they were a thing. By that time Daryl had gotten his own apartment and Beth was there all the time. She had started college in Atlanta by then and was staying in the dorms, but really she lived with him. It was strange living with someone. Her girly shit was everywhere. Daryl walked into the apartment once and noticed she had bought a new rug and pillows for the couch. There were also new sheets on the bed.

"Do you like it?" Beth had asked him.

"I guess," Daryl said and then studied her, "You livin' with me or somethin?"

"Do you want me to?" She had asked instead. Beth was trying to sound casual, but Daryl could tell she was nervous. Daryl shrugged.

"Suppose, beats driving you back to your dorm," Daryl said trying to act like he didn't care either but his heart was racing.

It felt like the first 30 some years of his life he had been going through the motions. He didn't have a life of his own. His life was Merle's life, but now that he was gone Daryl finally started living. He had a girl, a few friends, and even a kid. Beth had named him Hunter. Fitting she said considering who was his father. Daryl had been fucking terrified when she told him she was pregnant. They hadn't even been together very long. "Just pull out everything will be fine" his ass. Daryl thought he had known fear before, like when his Dad used to beat on him, but not compared to this. Daryl was going to be responsible for someone else's life. What if he screwed the kid up? What if the kid hated him? Beth just said that Daryl was going to do wonderful and that she believed in him. His life was the best it had ever been.

Then he got the damn phone call.

"I understand why you need to go get him," Beth said as she made breakfast. Daryl was holding Hunter.

"Get ou?" Hunter asked. He was only two and still learning to talk. You couldn't make out what he was saying half the time when he did talk. Hunter was pretty quiet unless he was around his family. Just like Daryl.

"Come eat," Beth said taking Hunter from Daryl and setting him in his high chair. She looked at Daryl. "Go, I'm sure you can get a couple days off to get Merle settled. Then come back."

"You sure?" Daryl said and Beth nodded.

"Of course," Beth said with a smile. Her smiles always made his heart beat faster. Even three years later.

"I'll be back in time for Maggie's birthday," Daryl promised.

"You better, Maggie will be pissed if you miss it," Beth said.

"I'll be a few days, a week tops," Daryl promised. They never said goodbye. They both hated goodbyes. Beth just wished him good luck.

So that was how Daryl found himself outside the prison in shitsville nowhere Friday. He was leaning against his truck with a cigarette between his lips. He had kicked the habit years ago, Hunter couldn't be around the smoke. But if there was ever a time for a cigarette, this was it.

"Darlina!" Merle cried out upon seeing him. Daryl sighed as his brother walked toward him. "Long time no see brother. Don't blame ya for not comin to see me. It's like a tomb in there. But I'm here now! So where too? Huh? Been locked up a long time. I need a drink and some tail! Let's find the nearest bar!"

"A bar? Really?" Daryl said. Merle was now right in front of him. "You got arrested in a bar and that is the first place you want to go?"

"Whoa, little brother," Merle said putting his hands up, "What got your panties in a twist?"

"You just got out of jail, can't you give it up? Get a job or some shit?" Daryl said getting into the truck after loading Merle's bike into the back.

"I gotta a job," Merle said getting in too.

"Fuck, you gonna start dealing again?" Daryl asked and Merle grinned.

"Nice ride," Merle said looking over Daryl's truck. "You steal it?"

"Bought it," Daryl said shortly. Daryl pulled into the nearest bar parking lot. Merle was out before Daryl even put the car in park. He went to the bar and ordered two moonshines. "You got this, right? Don't have any money and you seem to be doin' fine in your fancy truck."

"None for me," Daryl told the bartender. He laid down some cash for Merle's drink on the counter. The bar was pretty empty. A few daydrinkers, but for the most it was empty.

"So I know a place you could go," Daryl said after sitting for a moment, "It is like a halfway house for guys just outta prison. There are people who can help you get a job."

"Like I said baby bro, I gotta job," Merle said harder this time.

"It's not gonna cut it anymore," Daryl said and Merle raised an eyebrow.

"What happened to you?" Merle asked. "All this shit about goin straight. Since when do you give a fuck? If we got in trouble we will just bail like we always do. I wonna let those coppers get me again. Chill little brother."

"You have been gone 5 years," Daryl hissed, "I had to move on. I have a life now. A real job. A girl. I gotta…I gotta kid." Merle choked on his drink.

"A kid?" Merle said. "Who would be nuts enough to have a kid with you?"

"Her name is Beth," Daryl said, "And yeah I think she is pretty nuts for being with me too, but the fact is I got people who depend on me. I'll help you get settled someplace, but then I gotta go home." There was a long silence again and Daryl wished he had gotten that drink after all. Drinkin was something he didn't do much anymore either.

"A kid, huh?" Merle finally said.

"Hunter," Daryl said and got out his wallet. He showed Merle the picture he kept in there of Hunter and Beth. It was taken at her father's farm a few weeks ago. With the sun behind her it almost looked like the two of them had halos over their heads.

"Like em young," Merle commented and Daryl balled up his fist, "Calm down brother, she's cute. Lucky bastard get to tap that whenever ya want. Kids cute too. Looks like ya."

"Yeah," Daryl said taking the picture back. His eyes went to the TV and saw the bartender staring at intently. It showed a bunch of military types in tanks in Atlanta. Daryl couldn't help but jump when he heard them start to shoot. At everyone. Shootin people right in the street!

"Turn it up!" Daryl said walking closer to the television.

"We advise no one to panic," The newscaster said. "Stay indoors and everything will be fine. We will have another report when we have more information. It is important that you do not panic and stay indoors."

Daryl ran to his truck.

"Slow down brother!" Merle called running after him.

"It's Beth! My kid!" Daryl said putting the car in drive. Merle jumped in the car next to him and Daryl sped off to Atlanta.

He never should have left.

He never should have left them alone.

He should have left Merle to his own devices and stayed with Beth and Hunter.

He should have stayed with his family.

It was something Daryl was never going to forgive himself for.

…

What did you think? I wasn't going to publish this then I thought why the hell not. My job is hard and it is nice to come home to nice reviews after 5th graders giving you attitude all day.

So I know another story named Daryl and Beth's son Hunter, one of them is called Orange Sky I think. (Read that and the first one they are awesome). Promise I didn't copy. Started writing this before she named the kid Hunter. Besides, it is suck a fitting name for a Dixon baby.

Okay enough of that. Please review and tell me if I should both publishing more!

Thank you for reading!