A/N: Here's another surprise chapter I didn't think I had in me. Let's all wish Daryl a happy birthday!

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Chapter 36

Daryl drove down the Greene driveway, his truck kicking up a small dust cloud behind him. He hadn't traveled down this dirt road the Sundays from weeks prior when Beth had invited him to Sunday dinner. He had purposefully avoided joining the Greene clan at their weekly Sunday evening ritual. It wasn't as if he didn't feel welcomed, it just hadn't been the right time for Daryl.

This was the one Sunday dinner he couldn't avoid. This one was for him; he was the guest of honor. Daryl was there to celebrate his birthday with the whole Greene clan for a nice Sunday dinner. He was thirty-five years old today, the same age that his mother had died at. Daryl didn't dwell on the morbid thought, letting it pass over him with little concern. Getting older didn't matter much to Daryl; it was just a part of life. Your age was just a number, one more than it was last year.

Daryl couldn't deny he felt a little strange as he parked the truck. All his birthdays before had never been much of nothing. His mom had made him a cake once, he remembered that. There had been chocolate frosting and candles too. It had been his sixth birthday, or maybe his seventh, that part he was foggy on. But Daryl did recall his old man had been in jail for some drunk and disorderly charge for a few blessed weeks. His mom had actually taken to smiling again, putting together the small event for him to celebrate. Merle had even been there, either just out of juvie or on his way there. It had been before Merle had taken off for the army.

Beyond that memory, that one good bit that Daryl had often clung to as a young boy, there had never been much for celebration when it had come to his birthday. If it hadn't been for school after the death of his mother with their paper cut out cupcakes on the wall with his name and birthdate on it, Daryl might not have even remembered when it was. Remembering his birthday for school never did him any good either, he never had the required treats to pass out to his class and only increased the animosity from the other kids, who already thought of him as a dirty, devilish Dixon. There had been no reason to celebrate in his father's opinion at home, Daryl had been just a fucking waste of space and a goddamn, good-for-nothing crybaby.

It wasn't until Daryl found himself trekking all around Georgia with Merle that his birthday was acknowledged again. His twentieth had included a shit load of whiskey and a loose woman that his brother had probably paid to entertain him in the back room for the first time. After that, both the brothers' birthdays had pretty much turned into a two or three day binge fest. The festivities hadn't been all bad, at least from what Daryl could remember in between the drunken hazes. Merle and he had themselves a few good memories peppered amongst everything else. It was taking some time to remember that.

And it wasn't like Daryl wasn't a little bit excited for his birthday dinner, despite the strange feelings rising up in him. He'd been to the Greene house for meals before, especially when he had been helping around the farm before Maggie's wedding after Hershel had been ill. He already knew Beth was damn fine cook. Daryl was looking forward to what she had prepared; Beth had been teasing him with the secret all week. The other Greene sister, Maggie, was lucky to have Glenn, at least in Daryl's opinion after tasting a few items of Maggie's creation before.

Maybe the slight swirling in his gut came from the fact that Sunday dinner in the Greene household meant a bit more than a lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Even an outsider like him knew that. Maybe that was why he'd been passively avoiding going when Beth had requested before. Now that he was there, that something more wasn't exactly a negative twisting in his gut.

Daryl exited his truck, his leather jacket on to protect him from the chilled October air. He made his way up the steps slowly, sending a glance to the other car in front of the house. Maggie and Glenn were already there. They had probably been there since church as the Greene family often spent the entirety of Sunday together. Daryl supposed it was something he was feeling almost ready to do too… maybe.

He softly rapped on the closed screen door with his knuckles. The oak door behind it was shut also, leading Daryl to believe he should knock. The grand oak door fit the large, white farm house perfectly; it had been artistically created with its elegant curves and designs and had been well taken care of over the years.

Hershel opened the doors. "Son, you don't have to knock. It's your party," the elderly man stated with a smile, stepping aside to let Daryl in.

Daryl gave a small shrug of his shoulders. Of course he had to knock, there was no way he was just walking into their house unannounced. But Daryl didn't expect Hershel to understand. This had always been the older man's house.

"Daddy!" Hope raced around the corner from the kitchen. "Happy birthday, Daddy!"

Daryl bent low to absorb the hug his daughter was eagerly offering. "Thanks, darlin'."

"We's got a cake, Daddy. I helped Mama. I did," Hope enthusiastically told him, pulling back to look at him in the face. "I did some of the frostin' too. And I got to lick the spoon!"

"Well, that is the most important part," chuckled Daryl as Hope released him from her hug. His daughter, the wonderfully happy being that she was, always had a way about her that made him smile. Daryl had never been the type of person to regularly smile; it would be weeks or months in between one cracking his tough exterior. There just hadn't been much for him to be happy about before. But Daryl couldn't help but smile around Hope. His daughter was just that amazing.

"C'mon, Daddy, I wanna show you the cake," Hope implored, tugging him towards the kitchen.

"Lemme take my coat off, and then you can show me all you want," Daryl suggested as he stood back up, sliding out of his leather jacket.

The sight of the back of his jacket seemed to give the small child pause as Hope cocked her head. "You got wings, Daddy." It was almost a question as much as it was a statement.

Daryl looked to the worn set of wings on the back of his jacket. "Yeah, I suppose I got 'em."

"You an angel?" Hope asked with all seriousness.

Daryl smirked, knowing he was the furthest person in that house from one. "Nah, darlin'. I don't think that's a name I've been called before..."

Her sandy brown hair in its high ponytail swung side to side at her sudden movement as she quickly moved her gaze from his faded wings to her father's face. "But… but you got wings."

Hershel, who had never strayed far from the pair, laughed lowly. "Hope, what'd we learn in Sunday school today?"

Hope turned to her grandfather, a perplexed look on her face.

"Guardian angels are all around us doing the Lord's work. Some are real angels and some are people in our lives," explained the older gentleman with a wink.

Hope looked to his wings hanging on the coat rack and then back to him again, a knowing look coming over her face. "Oh," she said with awe.

Once again Daryl smirked. He couldn't help himself, not with that look that was on her tender face. He scooped up his little girl easily into his arms. Hershel chuckled again and clapped a hand at Daryl's back affectionately. Restraining himself from pulling away from the uncomfortable touch, Daryl couldn't help the thought that Hershel might not be so welcoming if Hershel knew what he had been doing to his little girl, Beth.

The trio walked into the dining room that was off the kitchen. Glenn and Maggie greeted Daryl while setting the table. Daryl set Hope down, and she ran over to help her aunt with the napkins. Hershel settled himself into the position at the head of the table.

Daryl couldn't help but gravitate to the kitchen where Beth was behind the counter. She looked beautiful as she always did. She had a long sleeved navy tunic on with her trademark tights underneath, grey this time. Her hair was down, a simple set of silver barrettes twisting her golden locks from her face. Beth was pulling the last piece of chicken from the frying pan. It looked like he was having his favorite tonight, fried chicken, corn bread, mashed potatoes and beans with bacon. His mouth was already watering. Daryl was definitely going to be getting fatter in this relationship at this rate.

Beth set down her utensil upon his approach. She cupped his chin when Daryl reached her, giving him a fleeting and sweet kiss to his lips. He wasn't one for public affection, but it was nice. He hadn't realized he craved her kiss until she had bestowed it upon him. There hadn't been a lot of one on one time between the couple as of late. Daryl blushed a little after Beth pulled away. It was certain that Glenn and Maggie noticed by the sly grins on their faces, but at least Hope was still oblivious.

Everyone helped deliver the steaming and mouthwatering food to the table. Daryl was offered a seat next to Beth as the family sat for dinner. Hands were grasped in front of them for prayer before they ate. As Daryl listened to Hershel's request for blessing, he didn't find himself as uncomfortable as he thought he might be to be included with them in prayer. He bowed his head at the lead of the others with his hands in front of him on the table. Daryl wasn't exactly sure how to pray, knowing his prayers as a child had never been answered so maybe he'd been doing it wrong. It wasn't like he'd ever entered a church with the intention of learning before.

The food was absolute heaven. Once the first taste of his fried chicken hit Daryl's tongue, he released the smallest of appreciative moans. Beth beamed at the sound, selecting another piece for him, already knowing he'd want more. While the conversation during the meal had been good, Daryl paused as little as possible, focusing on the delicious meal before him and wondering why the hell he'd ever avoided Sunday dinners before.

Once everyone was finished and the table cleared, Beth brought out the cake she and Hope had made. Daryl was certain that he didn't have any more room left in his already full stomach until he saw the appealing dessert presented. The cake was a peculiar light green color, but Daryl didn't let that throw him off. He knew damn well Beth was good cook, but she was a damn great baker.

The family crowded around him as Beth placed the cake in front of him, Hope climbing excitedly into his lap. They sung to him which brought a blush creeping up his neck and made his ears burn, but he tolerated it the best he could. Daryl even blew out a few lit candles with the enthusiastic help of Hope.

The light green colored cake ended up being the best damn pistachio cake and frosting Daryl had ever tasted. Not that he'd ever tasted one before, but Daryl was certain there wasn't any better in the whole damn state of Georgia. He actually found the courage to tell Beth that while asking for a second slice, a glowing blush of pride gracing her cheeks at the words. The cake was his new favorite dessert, and Daryl was already looking forward to requesting it for next year if he could.

After the cake was eaten, Hope eagerly decided it was time for gifts, bringing him a few meager presents. As few as they were, it was still more than he'd ever been given before in his life; a sad fact that he refused to dwell on at the moment.

"Here, Daddy, I made you this," Hope declared as she eagerly presented him with a homemade card and few other pictures she'd drawn. They were crude but beautifully simplistic in a three-year old's artistic manner as she had scrawled him and her and Beth together along with lots of puppies and unicorns.

"Oh, thanks, darlin'. These are goin' on the fridge at home," Daryl appraised fatherly.

His next gift came from Beth. Daryl pulled a pair of new leather boots from a decorated gift bag complete with a big blue bow. His old ones were barely held together by the dirt and grime on them. Somehow Beth had figured out his exact same brand and size. Daryl wasn't sure how she was able to accomplish that since everything on them was so worn down that even he wasn't sure he knew what they were anymore.

"Thanks," Daryl managed as he turned them over appreciatively in his hands. He wanted to say more but felt the same old creeping blush rise up his neck.

"You're welcome," Beth responded sweetly, smiling at him in a way that warmed his chest up completely and made him sit up straight and tall.

Daryl was a little surprised when Hershel presented him with his next gift. Hope helped him unwrap it to reveal a very nice new pair of leather work gloves.

"For when you help around here, no need to get dirt smudges on our girls if we can help it," Hershel commented jokingly with a wink.

Daryl was able to mumble his gratitude with a small smile, not entirely sure what he should be doing. He'd never received gifts like this from others before. This was new family territory for him, something so seemingly normal by the way everyone else in the room was acting.

He was almost put over the top when Maggie handed him a card. "From me and Glenn. We weren't sure what to get you so…"

There was no gift, just the card that Maggie gave him. Daryl opened it carefully; acutely aware of all the smiling faces watching him. At least he was close to being done and would soon no longer the center of attention.

Hope climbed into his lap once more, curious to what was enclosed. "Whatcha get, Daddy, whatcha get?"

Daryl pulled the card out with the plain inscription of celebration on the front. When he opened the card and started to read out message inside, he instantly felt his face creeping red. Enclosed inside was a coupon for a whole night of babysitting again that was more than a little suggestive.

Maggie stood before them, her arms crossed over her chest, and a grin on her face. "Like I said, we didn't know what to get you so I thought… why not my sister again," she explained teasingly.

Glenn might have winced, but he was also biting down on his lower lip to keep from smiling at his wife's mischievous comment. Beth, on the other hand, gasped at her brazen sister. She playfully swatted at Maggie, striking her on the shoulder. Hershel frowned deeply at his eldest daughter, shaking his head disapprovingly despite the twinkle in his eye. Maggie wasn't phased at all as she laughed at their reactions.

"Daddy, what is it? Whatcha get?" Hope asked, not understanding the amused adults around her.

What the hell could Daryl say to explain that joke? He knew his face was flushed red, he couldn't stop that. Daryl shoved the card down into the gift bag containing his boots with a dismissive grunt.

"Your aunt is funny. Go ask her," he grumbled in a low voice. The real problem was the fact that he wasn't entirely ungrateful for the gift from Maggie. It was probably his favorite despite the flush of embarrassment it gave him in front of her family. He'd be using that joke coupon soon, really damn soon.

His eyes met Beth's, and he could see her blushing slightly too. Their one night together had been weeks ago. Their lives weren't exactly conducive to finding a lot of free time for just the two of them, but they had managed. There had been a few stolen afternoons or evenings that had allowed them the privacy needed. While their lovemaking hadn't been hurried, it lacked the closeness of an entire night to them alone. Daryl was looking forward to another night that allowed him to worship Beth again, the way she was intended to be.

Once the excitement of gift opening was done, the attention turned away from Daryl, and for that he was grateful. He took the opportunity to excuse himself and sneak outside to the porch. Daryl grabbed his jacket, not only because of the chill in the evening October air, but also to retrieve his cigarettes. He pulled one out along with his lighter. Daryl placed it in his mouth, hanging from his lips as he lit it. The first drag he pulled in had a deep and soothing effect on him.

The whole night, the dinner, the cake, the presents, they had all been good. Even the stupid joke gift and the conversation on beef prices with Beth and her family had been great. While it was a lot for solidary man like himself to be crowded around, Daryl found a familiar urge well up inside him again. It was not unlike the one he'd felt during the wedding the month before. He wanted this. It scared him how much he wanted everything and everyone inside that house. He wanted a family.

His thought was interrupted when Glenn poked his head out the porch door. "Hey," said the younger man. "Mind if I join you?"

Daryl gave him a beckoning chin nod in response, taking another drag from his cigarette. Glenn was a decent enough guy from what little Daryl knew about him. He did know Glenn came from the right kind of cloth for this family. Glenn was a standup guy that any father would want dating and marrying their little girls. Glenn had a steady job, a good education with the right manners and a decent sense of humor. Almost everything that Daryl wasn't.

Glenn walked over to the railing that Daryl was leaning against. He stood next to Daryl, looking out at the setting sun. "It's getting later and colder each day," Glenn commented passively. "Still… anything is better than Michigan, where I'm from. It might only be October, but I'd bet you if I was home I'd already have a hat, jacket and gloves on just to step out to get the mail. There might even be snow." Glenn shivered in disgust.

Daryl said nothing but released a good-humored snort.

Glenn cocked an eyebrow when he glanced over at Daryl. "Really, it's almost the damn Antarctica up there."

"Take your word for it. Ain't never been outta Georgia," replied Daryl, blowing out smoke out of the side of his mouth.

Glenn looked surprised at him. "Really?"

"Never." Despite all the bouncing around he'd done as an adult, Daryl had never travelled over the Georgian state line. Merle had disappeared to some exotic locations, but he never dragged Daryl along for which Daryl wasn't certain if he should be grateful for or not.

Glenn's face showed amazement at the fact. "Huh… well, I would not recommend Michigan in the winter. Not unless you like frost bite on your nether regions or breathing in air that hurts you."

"Duly noted," answered Daryl dryly.

A huff of amusement escaped Glenn as he turned around to lean back up against the porch railing, looking back at the Greene house. "So… that went well."

Daryl paused his motion of bringing his cigarette to his mouth again, a puzzled look jumped on his face from not understanding the younger man's comment.

"Dinner," explained Glenn quickly. "I know it was your first… I mean, I know it's not the first time you've eaten here obviously. But you know, it was the first Sunday dinner."

Daryl nodded his understanding and pulled another drag from his cigarette, not feeling the need to say more. The evening had been pretty good. He could see himself coming for more now that this one was over. It ended up not being such a big deal, not like he'd built up in his head a few times when he'd been alone with his thoughts. Daryl should have known in the end, he'd have done anything for Beth and Hope, even if that was an uncomfortable dinner. He was regretting not coming the first time she'd asked. Daryl was certainly not going to turn down another invitation.

"I remember my first Sunday dinner. Did not go as well, let me tell you. There was gravy that ended up all over me. And then I knocked Hershel's coffee over. I don't think Hershel even said more than five words to me the whole night, mostly just glared at me. It was not good. It was… two years ago. Hershel likes me much better now, his tolerance has gone way up," said Glenn. The younger Asian man turned and looked at Daryl, considering a thought before he continued, "Still, I think he might actually like you better. I mean, I think you're a bit more up his alley, you know, good with tools, tough, and you know mechanic man stuff. I don't really fit that bill."

Daryl scoffed loudly at the comment. He knew he wasn't anything like what Hershel would ever pick for either of his daughters. Glenn was everything that Hershel should want, and Daryl didn't even pause to try to understand how Glenn couldn't know that.

"First time I ever met Hershel he told me he owned a shot gun and that he was a damn fine shot with it," offered Daryl darkly.

Glenn chuckled. "Okay, so maybe he just tolerates the both of us."

The door creaked open behind them, both men turning to look.

Beth poked her head out the door. "What are you men doing out here? Hiding?'

"Just keeping the birthday boy company," quipped Glenn.

Beth stepped outside, a thick grey sweater wrapped around her to protect her from the chill. "Well, Hope is in there looking for her Uncle Glenn. Maggie said somethin' about a Connect Four gauntlet being thrown down earlier?"

"Well, then it's on!" cried Glenn as he went back into the house, leaving the pair completely alone for the first time that evening.

Daryl turned and pushed the tip of his cigarette into the dirt of a dying potted plant. He pinched the ash off and shoved the small left over into his coat pocket as Beth approached him. Daryl didn't like smoking around her or Hope, it was a dirty and foul habit. They shouldn't have to be exposed to that part of him. He wafted the air around him and away from Beth.

"No, it's okay," Beth said as she put a staying hand on his arm to stop him.

"It's a nasty habit," Daryl grumbled.

"Daddy still has a pipe he doesn't think Maggie and I know about. 'Sides my grandpa, my mom's dad, was a half a day pack man. His eyes weren't the best at the end. He used to like me to read to him while he smoked a little on the porch. The smell… the smoke… it reminds me of him," Beth mused with a sad smile on her face.

Daryl wrapped an arm over her shoulder and drew her next to him. He loved having her close, her small body next to him.

Beth settled in against him with a sigh. "Did you have a good birthday?"

"Yes, the best." Daryl wasn't lying when he said that. It was literally the best birthday in his miserable existence. He thought he probably should tell her that, really explain it but not right then. Later, Daryl didn't want to ruin the evening for her.

"Good," she said with up turned lips, happy that she could do that for him. Beth slipped a hand along the edge of his leather jacket, touching the shirt over this abdomen to steal his warmth. The touch made him twitch, not in the bad way from before when touch was unwanted. No, this elicited a whole different response. One that was more yearning and full of desire.

"I still think I should go with you on Tuesday," Beth stated softly.

They had already discussed the topic at length. Tuesday was Merle's sentencing. Andrea had not been successful as Daryl had originally hoped. That was mostly due to Merle's own stubbornness. There had been no trial, barely a negotiation on Andrea's part with what Merle had allowed. Tomorrow his brother received his fate, and Daryl intended on being there.

"You got school," Daryl answered firmly, just as he had before when they'd talked about it. School was a damn sight more important that his stupid, druggie brother.

"I could make it work. I can talk to my professors," Beth offered.

"Nah, you stay in your class. I'll be fine," Daryl responded. He found after his explosion at her and then his release in the woods, he'd oddly been more fine the past few weeks than he would have thought. Beth by his side had made that easier. Everyone new in his life had.

Beth titled her head up to look at him, her chin held high. "You sure?" Her blue eyes were imploring, questioning his words with her concern.

Daryl brought a hand to touch the fine skin of her cheek, trailing a slow path down to her jaw. "Yes." It was enough that she offered. Of course he wanted her there, she knew that. It was more important for her to be in school and do well. He never wanted to get in the way of that. Daryl knew her support would be there later if he needed it.

"Okay," Beth relented, lowering her head back to his shoulder. "I want to be there for you."

"I know." And he did. Daryl finally understood the depth for which she would be there for him. Today, tomorrow, and the more he thought about it, even longer… without him ever having to ask.

Beth snuggled into him, her hand wrapping further around his middle to share in his warmth. "I'll be thinkin' of you. Call me. I'll have my phone."

Daryl thrummed deep in his chest in response. He knew he would. He could barely stand to go a day without seeing her, let alone not hearing her voice. Daryl casually allowed his arm to drop from her shoulder, gliding along her back to rest on her hip. His fingers pressed gently to there.

"I… I think it's time we talked to Hope," Beth suggested with a sudden topic change.

Daryl paused for a millisecond, his body going rigid. "You think?" He wanted to tell their daughter, it was something they had put off originally due to the uncertainty. Daryl wasn't certain what the conversation would entail, but it was probably time to tell Hope. He wanted to be able to kiss his woman in front of Hope if he desired, to hold her hand, or to touch her back without question. Everyone else seemed to know, it was probably time to let their little girl in on their little secret.

"Yes," Beth said in almost a whisper. She understood, along with Daryl, that it was a little more than just letting their three and a half year old daughter know her mother and father were in a relationship. It was a lot more than that.

"Good," Daryl answered in a hushed breath, pressing a kiss to the crown of Beth's head. This had been the best damn birthday ever.

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A/N: There are only a few more chapters left, so drop me a line - let me know you're still interested and what you think!