Daryl lifted the boy into one of the car seats he gripped the straps in his hands trying to figure out how to fasten had already sat in the driver's seat she realized Daryl's struggle and lent over in to the back.

'You've just gotta put these two bits together and clip them in here'

Daryl face flushed and his brow furrowed again. Daryl felt a pang of guilt hit his chest he probably should have a better car seat for Otto in his truck but he couldn't afford much.

'He's got a car seat it just got diffident straps' huffed Daryl in a defensive tone Beth just smiled at him and nodded.

…..

'Which way I'm I going?'

'Right, then just go straight'

Beth looked slightly confused as far as she was aware there was just woodland down there.

'You live in the woods'

'Obviously wise I wouldn't be telling y' to go down there'. She had to admit she was a little scared but she had a good feeling about him.

Beth cleared her throat 'So Daryl what do you do '

'I'm a mechanic'

'Oh which garage do you work at?'

'Horvath's'

Beth face formed a big smile 'you work at Dale's he's like my uncle, he's my daddy's best friend and my sister's husband Glenn works there to'

Daryl gave his signature nod.

'I've haven't seen you there before, do you know Glenn'

'I only just started working there full time'

'Oh'

'What you doing tomorrow'

'Work in the afternoon, why'

'We've got to find Seamus'

Daryl shot her a funny look

'What?' spat Daryl

'The dog' said Beth stating at him intently

'A damn dog is the last thing I need' scoffed Daryl

Beth pulled up outside a small cabin it was surrounded but trees and shrubbery. There was a small tree house in the tree just left of the porch.

Daryl noticed her eyes scanning the small home he shuffled in his seat was she judging it? It was home to him but to her it was probably just a worn down shed he though. He then noticed her face curve into a smile.

'It's so adorable' squeaked Beth

Daryl didn't know how to reply to that he just looked at her with a sideways glance.

…..

Daryl open the back door of the truck he was greeted with Otto fast asleep with his arms crossed.

Daryl tried to carefully unclip the straps of the car seat his big rough hands fumbled with the completed buttons. As Daryl lifted Otto out of the seat his eye lids began to flicker and he let out a long drawn out yawn, his eye lids blinking adjusting to the porch light. Daryl put his hand on Otto's head attempting to sooth him back to sleep.

'Are we at home' crocked out Otto his small tried voice barely audible

'Yeah, go back to sleep bud' said Daryl

Otto snuggled into Daryl's shirt wrapping his arms round his neck and closing his eyes.

'Night sweetheart' Said Beth rubbing his back

Otto eyes snapped open

'Beth' enthused Otto releasing his arms from his dad's neck and turning to see Beth.

Beth shot Daryl I slightly apologetic look. She knew how difficult I could be to get toddlers to sleep. On Wednesdays and Thursdays she had to look after her nephew Tobiah, the sheriff's daughter Judith and Dale's grandson Elias nap time was a complete nightmare. Otto slid down Daryl's body planting his bare feet on the ground with a thud he had thrown his boots on the floor of Beth's truck, He rubbed his still tired grabbed Beth's hand smiling up at her.

'I show you something' said Otto

Still smiling up at her his navy blue eyes staring straight into her own ocean blues. Otto then grabbed Beth by then hand and started to tug her towards the porch steps. Beth took in the cabin from her now closer spot she took in the tan colour sliding and the green painted windows she also noticed a swing made of wood sat in the grass just of the porch, she'd better Daryl had made it for Otto his self.

'This is our house' Otto beamed proudly.

'It's beautiful 'exclaimed Beth

Otto then started to thump his small hands against the wooden door him then started to shout 'uncle Merle, MERLE, Uncle Merle'

Otto gave then door one more push and came it straight open.

'God dammit' spat Daryl he sounded angry he hand been watching them from the bottom of the porch. Beth spun her head back around to face Daryl. He had started to storm up the steps his face angry in expression. Beth's mind started to race had over stayed her welcome she thought. Daryl stomped straight past her into the house.

'MERLE MERLE 'he holled

He swung open one of the doors on the left side of the room, he left out a deep sigh. Beth gathered the person Daryl was looking for wasn't in there.

'Sick of him leaving the damn door unlocked' yelled Daryl

'Otto go put your jammies on' barked out Daryl pointing at one of the bedrooms

'Okay daddy, wait here, I'll be back' Otto said to Beth.

Otto ran through into the bed room. Beth looked up at Daryl he still looked angry and stressed. He was picking up food wrappers and beer cans from the floor mumbling various obstinacy's under his breath.

'Is Merle your brother' Beth questioned wearily.

'Yeah'

'This is his mess I'm guessing?'

'Yeah' sighed Daryl he didn't have the energy to be defences.

'Well it's nice of you to let him live with you, I bet living with a younger sibling would be difficult with the partying and stuff.

'Younger, he's nearly fifty' scoffed Daryl

'Oh' said Beth she didn't know what to say to that.

Otto came stumbling out of the bedroom he had put on some pjs with a big fox on the shirt and arrows on the bottoms, he was dragging a teddy bear behind him and he had a book in his hand it was labelled 'the grufflo' .

'Beth can you read dis please' asked Otto politely

'its late bud it's getting dark Beth's to drive home, you gon' say bye'

Beth didn't fight him, she didn't like driving in the dark and she did want to over stay her welcome.

Otto look down he looked a little upset but he seemed to understand he walked forward and wrapped his arms around Beth's legs. Beth bent down hugging him back.

'Are you gonna come back to find my doggy?' asked Otto

Beth looked up at Daryl asking for approval with her eyes. He looked down at the floor uncomfortable with the eye contact but he nodded his head as he often did to answer her questions.

'Yep' nodded Beth

Otto smiled bigger than she had seen the hold time she had been with him.

'Go get into bed now Ot, I'll just be a minute' yawned Daryl

'Okay' Otto hugged Beth one last time and ran off in to the bedroom still waving at Beth.

'So are you around tomorrow morning?'

'Er yeah'

'I'll come by early to and we'll go look for the dog'

'Whatever'

Well I've attempted to try write some more as the last chapter actually got some reviews which i definitely did not expect so thank you so much 3

ps- im definitely no writer so i apologizes for any huge plot holes and my terrible spelling.