Thanks to all those followed and reviewed. Means so much to me.

Thanks to Brandy, Carla and Abby for the beta help.

"Keep steady and just breathe as you pull the trigger," Daryl whispered into Chase's ear. They were hiding in the brush, having just spotted a doe in the clearing. Daryl had pulled Chase in front of him and was allowing him to make the shot, while he was holding the weight of the bow. He could feel Chase relax and slowly breathe in. When he breathed out, he pulled the trigger and let the bolt fly.

Both of them watched as it hit its intended target and watched the deer fall to the ground. A kill shot. Chase fist pumped the air as he celebrated hitting his mark, and Daryl made his way over to finish the job. The little boy skipped over to his mentor and became entranced with what lay in front of him.

"I really shot that?" he asked in amazement.

"Sure did," Daryl answered back. Since it was now hunting season, Daryl was making sure that the kid learned the survival skills he needed to know. They started right after Christmas, and Chase, this being his third time coming out with Daryl, was really proving himself as a quick study.

Chase grabbed the hunting bag so Daryl could reach the hunting knife he would need to start dressing the animal. He wasn't surprised that Chase was eager to learn about cutting open a dead animal. He assumed most young boys loved blood and guts, so why would this kid be any different?

He made sure to talk Chase through the entire process, and before he knew it, they were stringing it up into the branches, to let some of the extra blood drain and to let the meat cool down quickly. Chase made sure to keep quiet and only ask questions when necessary. They would cut up the meat into steak and organs for them to take home.

"Think you're mom would mind having some fresh deer?"

"I think so. She'll never believe that I killed it," Chase joked. Daryl chuckled.

"Sure she will. Ain't got no reason to doubt ya."

"She'll believe you. She really likes you."

Daryl just shrugged his shoulders and sighed. As much as he liked Beth and was getting to know her, he felt like she was pulling back slightly.

Before their conversations were natural and he felt like she was really interested in what he had to say. Now, she always steered the conversation towards Chase, and although was still kind to him, it felt awkward.

He at one point had contemplated asking her out on a date, but now, he wasn't sure. He was attracted to her and he thought she felt it too. Since that last class, it had been really hard to tell.

"Are you gonna marry my mom?" Chase asked innocently, which caused Daryl to choke on his own breath.

"Why you think that's gonna happen?" Daryl sputtered.

"Well, when two people like each other, they get married. Ain't that how it works?" Chase looked at him with wide eyes. Daryl almost laughed at the child's rationale. They didn't know just how complicated things were.

"Nah," Daryl shook his head.

"Why not?"

"Little more complicated than that."

"Don't seem complicated. I want a dad, and you're really cool and nice to me. And my mom is happy with you."

There was that word. Dad. As scary as a word it was, it didn't cause that panic that Daryl was normally accustomed to in these moments. He knew the kid's situation and his desire to have a father. Didn't make these conversations any easier though.

"I'm always gonna be here for ya kid. But it's up to your mom on who your dad's gonna be," Daryl tried to explain. Chase continued to stare at him and slowly let this information sink in.

"Oh…" he said slowly. "Okay," His demeanor changed and he seemed to take Daryl's explanation as truth and left it at that.

They finished up with their deer and started on the road home.

When he pulled the truck into park in Beth's driveway, Chase barely let him stop the car before he was unbuckling himself and running out of the vehicle. He chuckled at the child's eagerness and went to pulling some of the ziploc bags from the back cooler. They stopped at his trailer to drop his meat off in the deep freeze and kept a few bags to bring to Beth.

When he entered the house, along with Chase's booster seat, Beth was leaning over to listen to every word of what Chase has said about their trip that day. She was wearing a small apron over her jeans and sweater, and her hair was pulled back in a messy bun.

Chase was talking a mile a minute and Beth could only nod her head and pay attention to what he was saying. Daryl placed the seat on the floor by the door, so she wouldn't forget to put it back in her car, and walked over to where they were. Beth looked up at Daryl and smiled, her eyes glistening with pride.

"He actually shot a deer by himself?" she asked, her voice laced in awe.

"Sure did. I just held the crossbow for him. He aimed and pulled the trigger," Daryl said proudly.

"I'm probably a terrible parent for letting a six year old shoot an animal, but I don't think I've ever been prouder," Beth said, grabbing her son in a tight hug.

"Probably the only time he's gonna. Deer season is gonna be over soon."

"Can we go next year?" Chase asked hopefully. Daryl looked to Beth for an answer. He didn't want to okay it with the kid when she might not want to.

"We'll have to see how things are going. It's a long time away," She suggested. Chase seemed to be okay with her answer and ran to his room to change.

Daryl and Beth were left alone in the kitchen, the awkwardness returning to both of them. Daryl rubbed the back of his neck and looked around the room, unsure of what to say.

"Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes," Beth spoke, returning to the stove, "You can use the bathroom to wash up if you need to."

And with that, she turned her back to him and went about finishing her task. This is what they had come to. It actually hurt Daryl a little with her attitude change and it turned him off from wanting to stay.

He was hoping to get to know her better, as well as spend time with Chase, but she seemed so detached now.

He made his way to the bathroom, already knowing where it was and washed his hands. He wondered if this was really worth it anymore. He could easily just drop the kid off and go home to his trailer, rather than sit through an awkward dinner.

"Mom made meatloaf. It's your favorite right?" Chase interrupted his thoughts. He smiled down at the kid.

"Sure is," he replied. They made their way to the dining room, where Beth was bringing in a few dishes. Rather than offer to help, Daryl took his spot and sat quietly, while Chase continued to talk about their trip.

Beth brought in the meatloaf and side dishes of mashed potatoes and green beans. She already had their water glasses filled and a glass of milk for Chase was set out with the plates and cutlery.

She took her seat and looked to Daryl, giving him a nod as permission to start serving himself. He asked Chase for his plate and served the kid first, then went to his own. He always let Beth eat first, but this time, he just did as he was told.

"Don't forget about your reading tonight buddy. We've got to finish that book as your homework," Beth reminded her son.

"I know. I can't wait to tell the kids in my class about this trip. Maybe I can bring something for show and tell," chase exclaimed.

"Don't think you can bring a deer carcass to school," Daryl said.

"Too bad we didn't take a picture."

"I don't think your class, especially your teacher would really appreciate that," Beth said. Chase pouted but resumed eating his dinner.

It remained quiet, only the sounds of clinking forks and knives as they are. Chase was eating mouthfuls, impatient see what was for dessert.

"Mom," Chase asked, taking a gulp of his milk to wash down his food, " You get to decide who my dad is right?"

"Ummmm," Beth stuttered, not quite understanding what her son was saying.

"Cause I would like Daryl to be my dad and he said it's up to you," Chase said bluntly. Daryl almost choked on his food with that statement and his eyes went straight to Beth's. Beth looked in complete shock, with her mouth open slightly. "And I heard you telling Auntie Maggie that you liked him, and that what moms and dads need to do right, like each other?"

Daryl could feel the embarrassment wash over him, and he assumed Beth felt the same thing, as she was turning bright red.

"Chase, this isn't the appropriate time to be talking about that."

"Why not? I want Daryl to be my dad. He should talk about this too."

"It's more complicated than that sweetheart."

"No, you're making it complicated. You can be together, and I can have a dad!" Chase yelled at his mother. He pushed himself away from the table and got up from his chair. "Why don't I get to pick him? Why do you get to?"

"Chase," Beth pleaded with him.

"No! I want Daryl."

"I'm sorry Chase, but it's not going to happen. We aren't going to be together," Beth yelled back at her son. Daryl could feel that stab to the chest that just solidified his thoughts on Beth not caring for him. She was simply being nice and he mistook it for something else.

Chase obviously didn't want to hear what his mother said next and ran to his room, slamming the door shut. Daryl could feel the house shake with the anger and force he put behind it and he suddenly felt the need to leave.

He got up from his chair and Beth turned around to face him. He could see the start of tears in her eyes and he felt bad for that this had to transpire right in front of him.

"I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to see that," She trembled, her voice about to crack from the emotions. Daryl could merely shrug and get himself out of this situation. "I don't want him to think this is more than what it is -"

"Ain't your boyfriend, don't gotta explain yourself," Daryl spat out a little too forcefully. He was a little hurt by her confession, and he truly felt embarrassed for thinking it was anything more. Beth shut her mouth and left them in silence. She lowered her gaze to her feet and he knew that it was time to go.

Without a word, he grabbed his things and left her house, not caring about anything other than getting home. It would be hard to be around the two of them after what was said that evening. It was clear that Chase was looking for a father, and it was obvious that Beth didn't see him that way. Hell, he hadn't been thinking about it like that either, but the more time he spent with this kid, the more warmed to the idea.

Didn't matter now. He would wait for that text message or phone call where she would say that he couldn't come around anymore. It was just a matter of time.

He made it home to his trailer and started banging around, not really looking for anything in particular. He was just trying to vent his frustration and cupboard doors and random items seemed to be the way to get it done. He sat on his couch, contemplating this whole day and how messed up everything was. He started this thing just paying back a favor, and now he somehow got involved with this kid that he really enjoyed being around.

He certainly wished that Beth and the dad were still together, it would have made this a lot easier on Daryl. With a man in the picture, Daryl would have never set his sights on Beth. Now this was just a big clusterfuck of emotions and he really didn't want to deal with it.

He felt bad for Chase. He was doing better in school and in life and Daryl felt content that he had a part in that. With all that transpired though, would that progress be wasted?

Just trust me...

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