Matthew's birthday came around and he was up with Daryl in the morning, begging his Dad to let him open his presents early. "Go back to bed" Daryl told him.
"But Dad" Matthew whined.
"Uh-uh" Daryl refused "I've got work to do, now you can either help me or go back to bed, and I know you don't want to be working on your birthday" he knew Matthew was excited, but he also knew he wouldn't make it through the day if he didn't go back to bed now "go on, take Lucky I won't tell your Mama."
Matthew sighed but let Lucky follow him back to his room, Daryl made sure Matthew was back in bed before he went out to start work.
Beth got up next and started taking Matthew's presents down stairs, he wouldn't be getting his main present until the end of the school day, once she got all of the presents into the dining room she went and made a start on breakfast.
Before breakfast was almost done, Beth went out to get Daryl before heading to get Jamie out of bed, making sure he was actually up before going in to wake Matthew "happy birthday" she woke him gently.
Matthew woke up and smiled at her "what time is it?"
"Seven" Beth told him "come on breakfast is ready."
"Could you have not let me sleep in?" Matthew grumbled getting out of bed.
"Says the boy who was up at five this morning" Beth had already seen Daryl and been informed that Matthew had been up once already.
Matthew made it to breakfast where his family started singing "happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Matthew, happy birthday to you" they all sang together, Beth set a small cupcake in front of him for him to blow out one candle, they would do proper cake and candles later in the day with everyone around.
"Presents?" Matthew asked.
"Food first" Daryl told him. Matthew sped ate his food wanting to get to presents.
"Your main present won't be here till after school, we had to get it shipped from out of state" Daryl explained. Beth grinned as she watched Matthew unwrap his present thanking his parents and brother for what they had given him.
"Come on we gotta go" Jamie said headed for the front door.
"It should be illegal to go to school on your birthday" Matthew whined.
"We'll see you after" Beth kissed his head.
Jamie and Matthew were on their way to school like usual "do you know what they got me?"
"Yes" Jamie smirked at him.
"Tell me" Matthew begged.
"Your gonna like it" Jamie assured him, his parents had gotten him something similar for his eleventh birthday, a project that he would be able to work on with Daryl, Beth's idea of bonding. He had been given a motorcycle for his birthday, a beat up old thing that had taken them almost two years to gather all the pieces for and get running, Matthew would be getting a car which would probably take longer to repair.
Jamie pulled up to Matthew's school and watched him go in before driving to his own school, he sighed as he looked at the building he hated school and couldn't wait to finish next summer. Jamie entered the building and headed straight to his locker grabbing his books before heading to his first class.
Beth ran a few errands, including picking up a birthday cake, before heading to the school to pick Matthew and a few of his friends up, Matthew had decided that he wanted to do bowling for his birthday. There was a small bowling alley in town and Daryl had taken to renting the entire place since Matthew kept inviting more and more people.
Beth had already decorated for the party, and Daryl was there waiting for them, they let Matthew change before letting him and his friends do what they wanted at the arcade as his friends kept arriving. Beth walked over to Daryl concerned "have you seen Jamie yet?"
"No, he'll be here" Daryl assured her.
"I'm not so sure" Beth sighed, before going back to greeting Matthew's guests and their parents. Jamie showed up half hour or so later, Beth was frowning at him he had missed the first hour of the party.
"Sorry" Jamie apologised "truck broke down."
"Did you fix it?" she asked he nodded, "ok, but go see your brother" Beth pointed to the middle lane where he was bowling.
"We got two great ones" Daryl said wrapping his arms around Beth from behind.
"That we did" she smiled over her shoulder at him "everything is going smoothly, we still have to give Matthew his main present when we get back tonight."
"Yes it's in front of the house he can't miss it" Daryl informed her.
"My old truck broke down on him again today" Beth told him "that's why he was late."
"He's saving, should have enough soon" Daryl knew Jamie had been putting his money away, for over a year to try and get enough money so he didn't have to drive around Beth's old pickup.
"I don't know if it will last that long" Beth said.
"You thinking we should change his birthday present?" Daryl asked, they had already purchased his present.
"No, but I am thinking if the truck can't be fixed we could lend him the money for it, tell him he can work it off at the garage" Beth suggested.
"I think we can do that" Daryl agreed "I know this isn't the place, but a business opportunity has come up."
Beth turned in his arms "what?"
"I want to expand the garage, the land beside is up for sale, I figured we could take in more restoration projects" Daryl explained.
Beth nodded she thought it sounded like a good idea "we'll look at the cost" she smiled at him.
"Come on lets bowl" Daryl gestured.
"I've never seen you bowl" Beth laughed "I bet I can beat you."
"I bet you can't" Daryl rebutted.
