A/N Sorry for the wait you guys.

Ever since the day Daryl could remember things had been shitty for him. He never had much, so essentially he never needed much. He had just grown up that way. Sometimes he went to bed hungry, didn't always have brand new clothes, and was used to being yelled at. Merle used to help when he could. He had stolen bread from the store once because there was no food…How and the hell you steal a loaf of bread without getting caught was besides Daryl still to this day. But before Merle had left, yeah he had helped Daryl out. That was only for a few years though, and family was supposed to be constant. So why was he even considering helping Merle…? He was his brother but not a very good one. He had never been constant, never gave him unconditional familial love. Maybe that was why though. Maybe Daryl wanted to be a good brother, be the better man.

It had been three days and Daryl hadn't heard from Merle again yet. Beth had been asking him every day if he had talked to him, and he knew she was just curious and just trying to make sure he was okay, but he was becoming frustrated. Mostly because he knew the real reason his brother had come back and he honestly wanted to avoid talking about it or thinking about it at all costs. It's not like Daryl hated Merle, because he didn't, he loved him not that he'd ever actually told him that. He guessed every time Beth asked him it made him angry because he wished that Merle had come back to actually see him not because he just needed something from him. Just proved again that nobody ever wanted him. Well Beth said she did, but sometimes he couldn't help but doubt that even… All those years she could have backed out. She didn't ditch him when she got older like most people would have; she actually wanted more from him as they got older. Said she was in love with him like it was the easiest thing she's ever done. She's bat shit crazy if you ask me.

It was almost closing time as Daryl slammed the hood down on an old Chevy truck a little harder than what was necessary. He wished he could just shut his brain off sometimes.

"Ya okay man?" Daryl turned to see the voice had come from T-Dog another mechanic at the shop. He was a little surprised he didn't really ever converse with the guy, or anyone really for that matter. Daryl just grunted and gave sharp jerk of his chin not really in the mood to start making new friends.

"Alright man, have a good night." T-Dog gave him a small polite smile before heading out to the office part of garage to clock out. Daryl had been in a pissy mood all day; T-Dog obviously caught that vibe and was trying to be nice. But Daryl didn't want nice, he would rather just be left alone.

Daryl finished cleaning up his work bench when he heard T-Dogs voice call out form the door of the office. Daryl almost growled and turned around quickly to send him a death glare wondering why the fuck the man was suddenly so interested in talking to him.

"Dixon someone here for you, waiting in the office." Oh.

Daryl furrowed his brows at that wondering if it was Beth, a little concerned as to why she was stopping by, but he didn't know who else it would be.

"Is she blonde?" Daryl replied.

T-Dog smirked. "No, not exactly…" Daryl heard him let out a small chuckle as he disappeared back into the office. He finished wiping hands and made his way to clock out and see who it was.

It wasn't Beth.

"Hey Darleena been waiting for ya."

"Merle? How tha hell you find out where I work?"

"Small town… Come grab a drink with me." Merle told him more so than asking.

Daryl sighed and reluctantly nodded to Merle before clocking out. Daryl followed Merle to some dive bar a little outside of town. The place smelled of rotten cigarettes and cheap perfume and there were only what looked like a few regulars sitting at the bar. Not like Daryl was expecting much more, this was Merle he was with…

"You gonna tell me what's going on now?" Daryl asked as the bartender slid two beers in Merle and his direction.

"Well I was telling ya bout how I need yer help with something, that was until little blondie walked in an interrupted us."

"She didn't know you were gonna be there. Neither did I…" Daryl grumbled.

"I know ya aint seen me in a while but like I said I'm in some deep shit man, and you're the only person that I can trust to have my back…" Daryl stared back at him analyzing his face looking to see if he was just talking out of his ass, but he seemed like he genuinely needed his help. A few moments went by in silence and all you could hear was the bartender cleaning glasses.

"What do I gotta do?" Daryl asked hesitantly having a feeling he had already agreed by being there having a drink with him without even saying he would.

"Look I just gotta get the money back, you aint gotta do shit but be there and cover me. Make sure I don't get my ass shot. Think ya can handle it?" Merle asked nursing the beer in his hand.

"That simple…" Daryl guffawed with sarcasm.

"Yeah it is. Don't be a pussy, this aint anything. I'll even give ya a bit of tha cut a 'right."

"Do I have a choice?" Daryl glared, but Merle just smirked knowing he had got his way.

"Good. I'll see you Saturday night, be around to get ya around ten." Merle stood and gave him a hard clap on the back waving him off. Daryl clenched his teeth seeing that Merle didn't bother to pay for his drink. Typical.

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"You okay?" Her voice was quiet and soothing as they lay on his bed. He was on his back with his arm over his eyes trying to not think about the approaching Saturday; his talk with Merle earlier that evening hadn't really set his mind at ease. Merle assured him it would be easy but he hadn't really given him that many details, which made Daryl believe that Merle was pretty much gonna wing it. Which could never end well.

Beth was lying on her side propping herself up by her elbow watching him. He couldn't see her, but he could feel her studying his face. Daryl grunted in reply to her question. He could feel the disbelief radiating off of her, he knew that she hated when he didn't answer her and just made inaudible noises.

"Daryl." Just his name, he knew that tone. Not a question or a statement, a command. He sighed lifting his arm from his face to look at her.

"M'fine." He replied simply hoping it was enough to satisfy her, he really didn't feel like talking. Beth seemed to sense that, and knew better than to push. He would tell her if he wanted to and she knew that.

"Ok, well I'm here when you want to tell me…" Beth flopped over onto her back looking idly to the ceiling. Daryl turned his head looking at her thoughtfully.

"Quit staring." Beth spoke and Daryl smirked.

"It's creepy." She added with a small grin of her own that she couldn't help.

"I'm sorry." Daryl mumbled, but Beth could tell her wasn't apologizing for staring because that was something they joked around about all the time. This time his voice sounded distant like he suddenly had been transported to somewhere else. Beth turned back over on her side to look at him clearly.

"For what?"

"Why do ya even hang around me?" Daryl asked gruffly.

So that's what this was about. Beth sighed loudly. They had been here so many times, and it was always the same. He complained about how she deserved better, deserved more and that he would never be able to give it to her. Then she would counter back that he was enough, and that she loved him and always would and it didn't matter to her, because all she wanted was for him to be in her life. And it was true that's all she really did want, was him and everything that came with it.

"Were not doin this again." She replied.

"Doing what again!?" He barked back. Daryl couldn't stop thinking about how lucky he was to have Beth and then he had went an agreed to helping his idiot brother. Guess that made him just as much of an idiot. She deserved better, she really did. He didn't want to fight…Well he guessed he was sort of fishing for one. Maybe she'd get fed up eventually and come to her senses.

Beth stared at him calculating his reaction; she then realized that maybe it was more than that. That or he had a really big stick shoved up his butt, because he was acting really bent out of shape about everything. Beth continued to watch him not knowing how she should go about talking to him, or if she should even try. Daryl realized that she wasn't going replying because of the way he had snapped at her. She hadn't even done anything and he knew that, he shouldn't be doing this to her.

"Sorry." He said quietly looking to the ceiling.

"Whatever it is you can tell me Daryl…You don't have to do it alone. It's not something I did is it?" Beth asked her tone laced with confidence but then worry.

"Nah it aint you." Daryl took a deep breath trying to release some of his tension. He looked back at Beth holding his arm out inviting her to lie against him. She gave him a tight smile and accepted his invitation letting him envelope her in his arms. Once her head was resting on his chest he kissed her head lightly inhaling her scent helping release the rest of the tension from his body, for the moment at least. She snuggled closer into his chest and eventually her breathing had evened out and he knew she had fallen asleep even though it was only about seven o'clock. He absent-mindedly ran his fingers though her soft hair finding it comforting and before long he dozed off himself.

That was short lived when he was woken up by loud pounding from somebody at the front door. Beth stirred against his chest mumbling. Daryl reached over and grabbed his phone checking the time seeing they had been asleep for a little over two hours.

"Who is it?" Beth barley managed to mumble out shifting closer to him even though he was trying to remove himself from her and the bed; she wasn't making it any easier.

"I don't know I gotta go see…" He said finally successfully getting out of her grasp. She made a slight growl and buried her face into the pillows at which he smirked at her. And she says I'm grumpy.

Daryl trudged the front door opening it ready to rip whoever a new asshole for disturbing them so late.

"Hey change of plans little brother, I need ya tonight!" It was the first words out of Merle mouth as he rammed passed Daryl and into the apartment.

"Whoa what the hell are ya talking about!? What're you doing here?" Daryl spat out in a hushed voice.

"We aint got till Saturday now, they're moving the money tomorrow morning. We gotta go tonight." Merle sounded frantic which Daryl was surprised by.

"Right now!?" Daryl confirmed making sure he was hearing this right. Merle nodded handing him a gun. Daryl grasped the piece in his hand staring incredulously at Merle to which he just shrugged.

"Daryl?" He heard the mumble of his name and the padding of small feet coming from the bedroom. Shit he had almost forgotten she was here. Daryl turned to face her quickly reaching his hand with the gun behind him tucking it into his waistband of his jeans and pulling his shirt over it so she wouldn't see.

"Oh Merle…hi." Beth self-consciously ran her hands over her hair trying to tame it and straightened out some of her clothes that had been disheveled while napping. Daryl looked back at Merle who still seemed on edge and not looking to make much conversation all though he was the first one to speak.

"Imma have to borrow my brother for a bit, that alright sweet cheeks?"

Beth looked confused for a moment and made a slight furrow of her brows at the nickname he had used on her but nodded none the less.

"Yeah where are you guys going it's almost ten?" She asked as she made her way closer to Daryl. He went to open his mouth not really knowing what he was about to spout off but once again Merle beat him to it.

"I'm leaving town tomorrow, wanted to get one last drink with lil Darleena here before I head out again." Merle gave her a crooked grin. Merle didn't have lotta skills other than being an asshole, fighting, and getting into trouble, but he had always been a good liar too. It wasn't a complete lie anyway, he would be leaving town they just weren't going to get a drink… Daryl figured he should say something so Beth didn't think something was off. He didn't want her to worry at all, he didn't want her to know anything about what was about to go down tonight. She didn't need this or deserve it.

"Uh yeah I forgot he was coming by, then when I fell asleep…" Beth looked to him when he spoke.

"Don't know what time I'll be back exactly, but don't wait up. I'll see ya in the morning okay." Daryl gave her a small reassuring smile trying to play the part. She nodded not seeming bothered, but why would she be she just thought he was going out with his brother to say goodbye.

"I'll be waiting in the truck…" Merle gave a small nod to Daryl then Beth before exiting leaving the door wide open.

"I'll see ya when I get back." Daryl said again kissing Beth's head before turning to leave; he just wanted to get this over with.

"Hey get back here…" Daryl froze wondering if she actually did know something was up. He turned around hesitantly but only to see her pointing to her lips. He sighed with relief and couldn't help the small grin pulling at the corner of his lips.

"Yes ma'am." Daryl came back closing the distance between them and grabbed her face in his hands kissing her deeply. It was short but meaningful. Beth looked back at him with sparkling eyes watching him go. He hoped he wouldn't let her down.

"Have fun and be safe driving home, if you drink too much you call me!" She sounded like a scolding wife.

"I will." Daryl waved her off as he headed out the door shutting the door behind him; the cool night air did nothing to help settle the wave of nausea he had rolling through him like he thought it would. He really hoped this all went smoothly, because for the first time in his life he actually had something to lose.