Buck looked up the next morning as Daryl came in the room. Sophia had been up with Buck for the last few hours, watching TV. Daryl spotted her and walked over.

"Hey baby girl, sleep well?"

Sophia stood and hugged Daryl's legs. "Yep! Can we go swimming now?"

Buck chuckled as he watch Daryl pick up the little girl. "Real soon. I gotta talk ta Buck first then I'll take ya. Have ya eaten yet?"

Sophia nodded. "I had cheerios with Grandpa Buck."

Daryl smiled. "Good girl. Ya mama's up if ya wanna talk to her. Give me a couple minutes and I'll take you swimmin'."

Daryl set the girl down and she scamper off as he walked into the kitchen. "Thanks for feedin' her."

Buck shrugged. "She's my grandkid, it's my job."

Daryl sat across from Buck. "I thought about what ya said, talked ta Carol about it. We're gonna stay. This is a good place for us."

Buck smiled. "Good. Glad you're joinin' me. I'll show ya guys the new house when ya get back with Sophia. We can move in anytime. Ain't got much furniture there, but I was gonna order new. I've got a computer set up at the new house; we can have Sophia pick out what she wants for her room tonight."

Daryl nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Thank you for all this. Wasn't lookin' forward ta drivin' cross country."

Buck chuckled. "I wasn't lookin' forward to ya movin' that far away. Especially with my grandkid!"

Daryl smirked. "How ya likin' bein' a grandpa?"

Buck smirked at his son. "I feel old as shit, but wouldn't trade it for the world. Sophia's an angel, just like her mama. How's Carol doin'?"

"Sore, I just gave her another pain killer. She'll be out for a bit, but she'll be awake when we get back from swimmin'. I'll have my cell phone on me if Carol needs me." Daryl said as he stood up.

Buck nodded. "I'll be here packin'. I'll keep an eye on her. Go on, take ya kid swimmin'."

D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C

Buck was out in the garage when he heard the water running. Putting the box down he went inside to see Carol standing in the kitchen with a glass of water. The bruises on her face had bloomed into a purple and yellow mass across her cheeks, and Buck could see how she held her cast arm against her body.

"How ya feelin' today? Daryl's out swimmin' with ya girl, should be back soon."

Carol smiled at Buck. "A bit better. Those pain killers make me really sleepy. It's good to be up and moving."

Buck nodded. "Ya hungry? I ain't got too much here but I can make ya a sandwich."

Carol shook her head. "You don't need to do that. I can handle it."

Buck chuckled as he gently tapped Carol's cast. "Missy this ain't your old life. You're hurtin', sit down and let me make ya a sandwich."

Carol chuckled lightly as she sat down. "Thank you for this Buck. Thank you for helping us out."

Buck shook his head as he got out the sandwich makings. "Ain't a problem for me. I've been waitin' for years for my sons ta talk ta me. Besides, ain't like this hurtin' me none. I get my boy back, plus a few new additions."

Carol smiled as Buck handed her the sandwich. "Still, thank you. I was worried about Daryl trying to find work if he's on the run from the cops. I'm actually going to call one of my friends, her husband is the sheriff where we lived. He can help keep the heat off of Daryl."

Buck sat across from Carol as she ate. "Sounds good. Daryl weren't even too sure he didn't kill Ed."

Carol shook her head. "He was breathing when we left. Beaten to a pulp, but breathing."

Buck smirked. "Yeah, Daryl's all Dixon. Threaten what he loves, he'll come at ya fightin'."

Carol nodded. "Daryl's a good man. You should be proud of him."

Buck smiled to himself. "I am. I ain't seen him in 10 years, but damn has he turned into one hell of a man. I'm glad you chose to stay. The new house is much bigger. It'll be a good place for Sophia to grow up."

Carol smiled up at Buck. "I heard about the koi pond. She said you wanted to give her one."

Buck smirked at Carol. "She's my granddaughter. She's goin' ta be spoiled rotten."

Carol laughed. "Well save the puppy for Daryl. He already knows what breed he wants to get, a lab."

Buck nodded. "They're good dogs, loyal. That puppy will stick by Sophia's side thru thick and thin. Just like Daryl's goin' to with you."

Carol blushed. "I wish I had found him sooner. I wish he was Sophia's real father."

Buck leaned across the table. "He considers Sophia his. Hell, she's my grandkid. Don't matter if it ain't by blood. Daryl loves ya, and he loves ya little girl. He ain't goin' nowhere."

The door opened, and Buck and Carol looked over to Sophia running through.

"Mama Mama! We saw a deer!" Sophia exclaimed as she came to a halt in front of her mother.

Carol chuckled. "Lots of woods here sweetie. Lots of deer. Was it a boy or a girl?"

"A 9 prong Buck. A 9'er that I missed out on." Daryl grumbled as he came in.

Sophia scowled at Daryl before turning to her mom. "Daddy said bambi tastes good!"

Carol chocked on laughter as she pulled Sophia close. "Honey, remember when we went to Daryl's and he barbequed? That was deer."

Sophia looked shocked before suddenly shrugging. "You're right dad, bambi does taste good."

As Sophia ran to change clothes, the three adults cracked up laughing. Daryl recovered first.

"She damn near tore me a new one when I said I wanted my crossbow. Madder than wet cat!"

Buck coughed as he recovered. "Same bow Merle gave yeah?"

Daryl nodded. "Yeah. One of the few things I grabbed from Atlanta. I go huntin' almost every weekend."

Buck smiled. "Fuck I ain't been huntin' properly in years. Once this crap with Ed is done, we gotta go. The new house is right on the forest."

Daryl smiled slightly. "I'll like that. Hate drivin' for good huntin'."

Buck chuckled as he stood. "Well let's go see the house. I think you'll like the whole package."

D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C

Buck smirked as Daryl looked at the house, slack jawed. A big farm house, set on an open field. There were fruit trees around back, and a small orchard with raspberries. The house itself was dark grey with white trim, and a wraparound porch. Beside the house was the massive garage, with a mud room in between.

"Think this will work boy?"

Daryl looked over to Buck, who smirked at the shocked look on his son's face. "Why do I have the feelin' ya make a bit more then you used to?"

Buck chuckled as Sophia and Carol climbed from the truck. "After taxes, savings and bills, I made just over a quarter mill last year. There's a crap ton in savings."

Daryl shook his head as he looked at Buck. "So how much am I makin' an hour?"

Buck smirked to his son as he clapped him on the back. "Gotta figure that out, but don't worry. You can easily afford anythin' ya want. I already have saving's for you and Merle . And I'm gonna move an equal amount over to start a fund for Sophia. You're set for life Daryl. Ya can rest easy."

Carol and Sophia took off to look at the garden, as Buck walked onto the porch looking across the driveway, Daryl at his side.

"Ya sure about this Buck? I've cost ya eno-"

Buck interrupted. "Don't. Don't ya dare say that. I hurt ya bad Daryl. And I can't take that back. Let me do this. Give me a chance, ta be a good dad. Granddad."

D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C

Daryl couldn't handle this. This changed everything. Buck was stacked, big time. He wanted to share with Daryl. Buck wanted a chance.

Daryl opened his mouth to reply, as his phone rang. Pulling it out of his pocket, Daryl's face fell.

"It's Merle ."

Buck swore under his breath. "Let it go. He needs this push. Ain't much gonna get thru ta him with what all he's on. Merle needs ta lose ya, just for a bit, ta scare him."

"What if he thinks I'm dead. That'll break him." Daryl asked, biting his lip.

Buck reached over and clasped the back of Daryl's head, prompting him to look up.

"I gotta plan here. It'll work. I'm askin' ya ta trust me. I know ya don't have any reason to, but I love ya Daryl. I love Carol. I love Sophia. I love Merle. I'm goin' ta make this work. I just need ya ta trust me."

Daryl looked at his phone one more time before looking up. His eyes tore at Buck. "Just...don't be fuckin' me over."

Buck shook his head. "I ain't the man I used to be Daryl. I ain't gonna hurt ya."

Daryl met Bucks eyes. " Hard ta let go of old habits."

Buck looked to where Sophia and Carol were walking towards them. "I know. And I ain't given ya much of a reason, but this real for me Daryl. I've been waitin' a long time ta make right by you."

D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C D/C

Merle smiled as he exhaled, but frowned as he checked his phone. Still nothing. No calls, not even a text. Daryl always had his phone with him, and always called back within an hour, even when he was asleep. But it had been two days now, where was he?

Merle felt a stir of worry, even through his highly impaired state. The last time he hadn't been able to get ahold of Daryl, he had been rushed to the hospital after collapsing at work with pneumonia. It took two days for Daryl to wake up enough to call Merle.

Merle barely heard the ring as the phone droned on. Whatever combo he was flying on, Merle was flying high.

Hearing the beep of a voicemail, Merle suddenly remembered what he was doing.

"Shit, it's me. Where the hell are ya little bro? Give me a call."

Merle dropped the phone and rolled over into the cushions.

Question: which lucky lady shall catch the eye of Merle? Beth, Andrea or Maggie? Considering me, it'll probably be Beth but I would love your opinions!