Daryl looked at his watch again they pulled up to the school, he done it all, made lunch, got her showered and dressed. Getting her dressed finally putting something on that she deemed would be ok to wear, when she realize he wouldn't let her wear the dress up clothes he brought. He talked her into a black and white striped skirt that had short legging things fitted underneath, and a pink sparkly top. He had Maggie look at her hair, she brushed her teeth, he washed her face.

'Well Daryl, you have out done yourself this morning, getting her ready,' Maggie told him when he presented Sophia to Maggie to do her hair, 'Now how about you work some magic on yourself and take a shower, I'll watch her,'

Daryl looked down at himself, dirty tee shirt and track pants, Sophia spilt her breakfast on him. Not his normal clean appearance he liked to wear for the club.

'You were going to let me go out looking like this Sophia?' He teased the little girl, he left to go shower and get into something he could go out in public in. He stood under the shower washed his hair, body, wondering how Carol was. He had rung to find out, all they told him was she had had a restless night. He couldn't get in to see her until after he been to the club. Maggie promised to go visit her as soon as visiting hours opened.

He pulled on clean underwear deciding to go with fitted boy leg boxer type due to Sophia's thing of swinging off his jeans. He pulled on jeans and his belt. He pulled on a black fitted tee shirt and deodorant, Shoved his sunglasses on his head. He was done. Sophia was sitting at the kitchen table drawing watching Merle cook his breakfast. Daryl knew there was going to be a mess.

'The bed and stuff will be here at 9.30, can you get it?' Daryl asked him, 'I paid them extra to put it up, its got stairs and shit, like pink and white thing, the top bits got a canopy thing girls like , a cave thing underneath for playing in.'

'Sounds fancy,' Merle looked at Daryl wondering when he learnt the word canopy.

'Its what she wanted!' Daryl told him.

'You might wanna knock that on the head before we end up with a puppy or something, getting her what she wants,' Merle muttered.

'I know, just show them where, I'll pick you up to go to the club, then I gotta pick up Sophia then there ballet and shit,' Daryl told him. Merle just laughed. Daryl called Sophia to come with him to go to school.

The hair, the teeth, shoes, a bag. It was done, he just had to drop her off then go to the club find out the real damage. The insurance would cover most damage, the police were letting him in, he was meet Officer Grime's there at 10.

'Ok have a good day Sophia, I'll pick you up at three,' He told her waiting for her to get out and go into school, Sophia stared at him through the rear view mirror and burst into tears.

'I'm only 5,...' sniff sniff, 'Your posed to take me to class,' she cried. 'Its the rules... my Mama takes me to class,'

Of course she did, it seemed Carol did a great deal which he had no idea about. Granted till now she had kept her personal stuff from him, he climbed out of his seat, taking her hand as she led the way to her class. She showed him around and he met her teacher. He quickly explained Carol was sick in hospital, he was it.

The teacher seemed to know about what was happening with Carol, and nodded saying hopefully she would be better soon, she made a fuzz over Sophia which made Daryl happy about leaving her after she gave him the guided tour of the class room. She even managed to smear paint on him, painting him a quick painting for his office she told him. He told her he would put it up when he got to work.

A few of the mums said hello, he spotted the one from the car seat place. 'Did you get the ballet stuff? I didn't catch your last name,' she questioned him.

'Yeah, I got it, ummmmmmmmmmmm Daryl, Daryl Dixon,' He told her, she looked at him trying to figure out where she heard his name before. He told Sophia he was leaving and surprised himself by giving her a hug and a kiss goodbye, Carol words ringing in his head about being affectionate with the little girl by giving her cuddles and reading to her. He sometimes didn't have a choice because the little girl last night had used him like a climbing frame hanging off his back and shoulders like a monkey on his back when he was doing stuff in the kitchen last night. He'd spent 1/2 an hour reading to her on his knee before he put her to bed. She just seemed to snuggle into him naturally. He knew from seeing Carol with her she was very affectionate with her.

By the time he left he had time to duck back home to pick up Merle to go to the club to check out the damage for himself.

'Merle Dixon you get back in here this minute and clean this mess up,' He heard as he stepped into the kitchen. Merle had been making one huge mess by the looks of things and Maggie was letting him know she wasn't about to clean up his mess. Not now not ever, Merle come sulking back into the kitchen putting stuff away. Daryl laughed because Merle never cleaned up his shit, yet Maggie had him wiping down counters under her supervision.

'I've got to go with Daryl,' he complained.

'Your not, I didn't make this mess, you did,' Maggie come into the kitchen looking at the brothers, one who had a big shit eating grin on his face the other who was fuming but at the same time cleaning up the mess. 'Thank you, keep it up Merle your starting to learn how to do things.'

'Righto,' Merle finished up, Maggie gave him a hug looking over his shoulder to Daryl, 'She ok?'

'All good, but did you know you have to walk them into class?' He asked she nodded. 'Yeah, thanks for telling me, I pulled up said see you later, and made her cry,'

'Its a safety thing,' Maggie told him.

'Hmmmmmm.'

There was a knock at the door, the bed had arrived, the men started to put it together, Merle and Daryl left Maggie to supervise, then she would go visit Carol, then tag out with Daryl.