It was time. It was actually time. Daryl couldn't contain his excitement as he installed the car seat he had went out and purchased into the backseat of the car he also had to purchase. He hated having to spend any of the money that his brother left for him, but unfortunately, there was no way Nolan could ride shotgun in the front seat of his old blue single cab truck. So, without choice, he went to a used care dealership and purchased a car.

Daryl decided to live in Merle and Cheyenne's house. There where so many memories of Nolan's mother and father, and Daryl wanted to make sure that he seen their faces everyday. He walked into the nursery that had been partially set up by Merle and Cheyenne before the car crash and checked to make sure everything was in place. He was very pleased with himself.

After looking online for hours, Daryl went out and purchased all of the things that a newborn baby would need. He didn't have to get everything, because even though Cheyenne wanted to hold off to find out the sex of the baby until he was born, she had been stocking up on the essentials. Diapers, wipes, bottles, baby shampoo and lotion, burp clothes, medicine and a few gender neutral items like baby sheets, wash rags, socks and even a few outfits.

The theme he decided to go with was Harley Davidson Motorcycles since those where one of Merle's passions. He found bedding, curtains, a mobile and even a rug in the shape of a Harley. After going around to thrift shops and flea markets, Daryl found few pictures of Harley's to hang up and even a giant metal Harley cut out for the wall . A quick coat of Orange and black paint later, and some Letters that spelled out Nolan that he painted black with orange flames, and the Nursery was complete.

Daryl grabbed the diaper bag that was sitting by the door in the entry of the Nursery and double checked to make sure it was packed with everything that he needed. When he was satisfied that he had everything that he needed, Daryl went too the door, got in the car and headed for the hospital to pick up his nephew.

On the way there Daryl thought about the funeral, if you could even call it that, he had for Merle and Cheyenne. The only people there besides himself where two of Cheyenne's coworkers, one of Merle's buddies and the preacher. They where buried almost two weeks after their death, and it seemed like no one in the world even cared. There where no people that came to the viewing, no crosses by the road to remember them by, no one stopped by the house to offer their condolences and grieve with him and other then the few people who came to the small grave side funeral, no one seemed to care about the life and death of Merle and Cheyenne Dixon. No one except for him that is.

After the funeral Daryl went back to the house and worked in the garden that Cheyenne loved so much. He weeded the flower beds, mixed up some miracle grow to spray on them, and planted two rose bushes in their memory. A orange one for Merle, and a White one for Cheyenne. He would make sure that they where never forgotten.

Daryl pulled up at the hospital and climbed out of his car. He went to the back seat and took the car seat off the base, and walked inside.

"He is a healthy little boy Mr. Dixon." Beth said cheerfully after weighing Nolan and taking a final measurement of him.

Ever since the day they almost kissed, it seemed as if Beth was trying to keep her distance. Unlike before where she would sit and talk to him between her rounds and feedings, she stayed on the other side of the room when Daryl came in and called him Mr. Dixon instead of Daryl. It still made his heart ache when he thought about how much he actually missed her. Even when they where in the same room, it seemed like they where on separate continents.

"Thats good. Whats he weigh?" Daryl said as he looked down at the now 6 week old baby and smiled. Even when it seemed like the entire world was against him, that little boy could make Daryl feel more love then he ever had. Most of Nolan's long, black hair had fallen out except for around the sides of his head.

"7.1 pounds and 20 inches long." Beth replied.

"Wow. Good job big boy." Daryl cheered as he lifted the very alert baby into his arms. Immediately, Nolan snuggled into the crook of Daryl's neck and fell fast asleep.

"If you will just sign these discharge papers, you two will be all set to go home." Beth said as she got out a clip board and held it out for Daryl to sign. "I wrote my personal number on your copy, incase you have any questions. Feel free to reach me any time of the day."

Daryl thanked her before buckling Nolan into his car seat. When he was sure that the baby was secure, he thanked Beth again and walked out of the nursery.

The car ride home had been a success, even though it took Daryl twice as long to make it home. Partly because traffic, but mainly because he drove 15 under the speed limit the entire way. He was not taking any chances with the precious cargo he had on board.

By the time the two made it back home, it was almost 7 p.m. Daryl took Nolan into the house and the first thing he did was show him a picture of his mother and father.

"See here little guy, this here is your mama and dad. They where so excited for you to get here."

Nolan looked up at Daryl as if he was really comprehending what he was saying, and then burped extremely loud which cause him to bust out laughing.

"Let's go see your room buddy. Your mama, daddy and uncle Daryl worked hard to get this ready for you, so even if you don't like it, pretend you do, capiche?"

Nolan looked up at Daryl and yawned. Daryl took that as him understanding.

When Daryl opened the door to the nursery and turned on the light, Nolan instantly became amazed at the brightly colored walls and the mobile with tiny Motorcycles and Harley Davidson signs.

"Well, here it is little man. Your bedroom."

Daryl walked the baby all around the room showing him every little detail, and every time Nolan seen something new, his eyes grew a little wider and he would kick his arms and legs.

"I know it's going to take time to get into a routine, but we are going to work together and get through this. I promise little buddy, Uncle Daryl will always take care of you, and you are never going to want for nothin'."

After a meal of instant noodles for Daryl and formula for Nolan, Daryl decided it was time to get some sleep. He went into his bedroom and placed the baby in the pack n play by his bed. For probably the first several months, the baby would not be out of Daryl's sight. He was so afraid that Nolan would stop breathing, or roll over onto his stomach and not be able to flip back over, that he fell asleep with his hand resting on the baby's stomach. He was going to take every precaution that he could with the only person in the world that he had left.

2 hours later Daryl woke to the sound of Nolan screaming his head off. He jumped out of bed and picked the baby up out of the pack n play.

"Shhh... It's ok buddy. Uncle Daryl's here. Let's go get you a midnight snack." He said gently as he carried the baby into the kitchen to prepare the bottle.

He got down a clean and sanitized bottle from the cabinet and scooped in some of the powder, added the water and placed it into the bottle warmer sitting on the counter.

"This wont take long. Just a few minutes and it will be time to eat." He crooned to the still screaming baby. "Hey, how about a fresh Diaper. Maybe that'll make ya feel better."

Daryl took the baby into the nursery, turned on the little lamp sitting by the changing table and changed the baby's diaper.

Nolan face was turning red with every scream. He was not happy.

"Chill buddy, I bet that bottles ready. Dang it, you sure got your daddy's temper. Your mama woulda had fun with the two of you." He chuckled as he bounced the baby on his chest and walked back into the kitchen.

Fortunately, the bottle was ready. Daryl check the temperature on his wrist.

"Not to hot, Not to cold. It's just right." He said repeating a line from The Three little bears, the only book he remembered being read as a child.

Daryl tried to get the baby to take the bottle, but he was not having it. Every time the bottle went into the baby's mouth, he screamed louder and spit it out.

"Come on little guy. You ain't gonna be happy till you eat something."

Again, the baby spit out the nipple of the bottle as soon as it was in his mouth.

"Alright, maybe you ain't hungry. Hmmm..." Daryl said, trying to think about what to do.

"Oh, I didn't burp you after your last bottle!" He almost yelled. "I'm sorry buddy. Maybe you got some air on your belly."

Daryl went into the living room, bottle in one hand and a squirming, screaming baby in the other. He sat down in the rocker, placed the baby on his chest and started patting and rubbing his back.

Nolan still continued to scream. Daryl had been trying to burp him for 30 minutes now and nothing seemed to be calming him down.

"How bout some of them gas drops?" He asked the baby as he jumped up and went back into the kitchen.

Daryl kept the medicine in the top of the cabinet so that no little hands could reach it. After giving the baby a dose of the medicine, he went back into the living room and tried burping him again.

Another hour later and the baby was still screaming.

"I don't know what to do buddy." Daryl said feeling helpless. "Wanna sit in your swing?"

Nolan still continued to scream.

"Come on, lets try the swing."

He took the baby to the swing that was sitting in a corner in the living room. It took Daryl a while of pushing buttons before he finally got it on, but he did it. He laid the screaming baby into it and buckled him in.

"Let's try this for a while." He said as he sat down on the couch next to the swing.

Nolan still was crying and Daryl wasn't sure what to do. He looked down at the baby and started to softly sing Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man.

Mama told me when I was young

"Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this it'll help you some sunny day"

Nolan stopped screaming, and looked up at Daryl.

"Oh, take your time, don't live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
You'll find a woman and you'll find love
And don't forget, son, there is someone up above"

"And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can"

"Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied"

"And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can"

Oh yes, I will

"Boy, don't you worry, you'll find yourself
Follow your heart and nothing else
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied"

"And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can"

Baby, be a simple, really simple man
Oh, be something you love and understand.

Daryl looked down at the baby, who was still looking up at him with big dark blue eyes. "Better now buddy?" Daryl asked.

Nolan started screaming again.

"Ok, I don't know what to do." He said as he put his head in his hands. Nolan had been screaming since midnight. It was now almost 6 a.m. The poor little guy had been screaming for close to 6hours straight.

Daryl got an idea. He got up and walked into the kitchen where Nolan's discharge papers had been sitting on the bar. Picking them up, he searched for what he wanted. When he finally found it, he dug is phone out of his pocket, dialed the number and hit send.

After 3 rings Daryl heard the phone answer.

"Hello?" answered a sleepy female voice on the other end.

"Beth, its Daryl. I'm sorry to disturb you so early."

"Is that Nolan screaming? What's going on?" She asked, suddenly sounding alert.

Daryl took a deep breath. "Beth, I need you."