A/N Thank you all so much for the support you've given this story. Merle lovers are a small, mighty and terrific group. We know Merle rocks, even when he's bad, dang he's good! The last chapter left our ship in rough seas. We're picking up right where we left off to see if our couple can stay afloat.

Beth told Becky everything she'd done including the poor decisions she'd made, and about her conversation in the park with Merle. And finally she admitted how she'd just shut him out completely.

Becky was stunned, "So ya mean what ya wanted all along was for the man ta marry ya, is that right?"

Beth nodded, she was ashamed to have to admit this to her friend.

"Well Beth why didn't ya just tell Merle ya wanted ta be his wife? The man has done everythin' ta try n make ya happy. Damn yer my friend an all but Beth ya ain't done right by him."

"Yer the first woman Merle ever had love for, ya know that, ya know he never dated. Ya know he didn't grow up in some kinda lovin' household with happy parents. Didn't ya expect he might need ya ta just tell him? Daryl don't do nuthin' but try ta make me happy an when I need sumthin', whether it's fabric from town or a warm hug an some reassurin' words, I tell him. Ya know why? Cuz that's fair ta him. He don't always know what I need or want. Sometimes he'll figure it out on his own, but he'd just as soon I told him. That makes it easier on everyone. They ain't mind readers they're men. It seems ta me like ya set Merle up ta disappoint ya."

"How many times since ya been with Merle has he had ta beg ya back cuz he done sumthin' or said sumthin' ya didn't like an ya shut him out? How many things 'bout his self has he changed ta try ta make ya happy? Did he ever keep tellin' ya 'no' ta sumthin' ya wanted him ta do or ta change? It might take him a while ta come around but he always does."

"So then ya trick him thinkin' you'll just go on ahead an let him get ya pregnant so he'll marry ya. Now ya brung an innocent child in on it. So when ya ask him does he wanna get married an have children an he says 'no,' ya decide ya ain't gonna tell him ya wanted ta marry him all along an that there's already a child."

"Ya ain't played fair Beth, ain't been fair at all. Ya owe Merle an apology an that baby yer carryin' too cuz ya messed with their lives."

Beth was crying now but Becky wasn't done saying her piece. "I love ya, yer my friend but maybe it's time ya did a little changin' yer own self. Maybe yer gonna have ta be the one beggin' this time. I don't blame Merle for bein' angry with ya."

The knock on the door told Becky it was Daryl, they had a signal. She stood to answer it.

He came in and immediately locked the door behind him. "Where's Merle?" Becky asked.

"He didn't wanna come back, said he'd fuckin' had it. I didn't push it, he's a mess an as pissed off as I ever seen him."

Beth was standing there now. She was so used to Merle always being so willing to make up to her, to say he was sorry. She'd just expected he'd come back and she would apologize and of course all would be forgiven. But apparently Merle really had had it. After the way Becky had put it she understood why.

Daryl looked to her then, "Ya know Merle he's done a lot for me an a lot for Becky, but I ain't never seen him care for anyone like he cares for you. Ya shoulda spoke ta him, told him what ya wanted from him. He'da done anythin' ta make ya happy, now I ain't sure what the fuck he's gonna do an he don't know either. Seems he's give up on ya girl, oh he'll wanna see the child, wanna pay for the child's needs but as far as you an him, shit I don't know."

"Ya know Merle's teased me my whole life that I don't talk, that I ain't got nuthin ta say. That ain't true. When sumthin's on my mind Becky she listens while I talk, then we talk about it together. When sumthin's on Becky's mind she talks an I listen, then we talk about it together. When sumthin' needs ta be decided, we talk about it together an we decide together. Maybe you folks that like ta talk so much should talk about what really matters to ya, what's important an shut up once in a while an listen ta each other."

"An I'll tell ya girl I asked Merle ta give up the dope for years, he never put it down for me. I told him he shouldn't oughta go hangin' around places like that Cinnamon Shack years ago, he didn't listen ta me, but he listened ta you. An that ain't all of it. The man has turned his whole life upside down ta try an make ya happy. What have ya changed for him, what's different for you? I'm always the first ta just assume when anythin' goes wrong it's on Merle. But this time girl well I think ya owe him an yerself some honesty."

"Me n Becky we're gonna go on home now, I gotta work come mornin'. I'm sorry, maybe y'all can still work this out. If ya need us call me."

Beth was relieved when they each gave her a hug. They were disappointed in her but they still cared for her.

When they left she sat down hard in the chair. She was an emotional wreck. It had all seemed so cut n dry when she'd first come up with her stupid plan. She'd get pregnant tell Merle and he'd marry her.

Instead she'd gotten pregnant without telling him what was going on. Then she'd hidden the fact that she was pregnant and asked him a casual question while they were walking through the park.

And thinking about it she knew Becky was right, if she would have just asked Merle to marry her a long time ago, if she would have told him that's what she was looking for in their relationship he would have done it. He might have been nervous, might have questioned it, but she knew he loved her and if that's what she wanted that's what he would have done. Then they could have had a child. Instead, yeah Becky was right about that too, she'd put an innocent child in the middle of this mixed up mess.

And Daryl was right, she'd known for a long time she had some power over Merle, she knew he did everything he could to try and make her happy because he was so afraid to lose her. She knew he was always bending over backwards even when it came to stupid little things. Shoot, he'd eaten dinner at the bistro many, many times. She'd kept from him the fact that she knew he hated it because she liked it and he was always so willing to take her, to make her happy.

She was starting to feel like she was the worst girlfriend, hell the worst person, in the world. She had just taken and let him do the giving. She'd let him always be the one to do the bending.

She decided right then she was doing this before she chickened out. She grabbed her jacket and her purse and she was out the door and on her way to his house.

He loved her, that hadn't stopped. You don't just shut that down in one evening. But he didn't think it was ever going to work with her. He'd been down this road with her too many times. He'd find he didn't meet her standards so he'd change, alter his lifestyle and beg her for another chance.

But this was different she'd said herself that she knew he would marry her if she would have told him the truth. Why had she set him up for a fall? Why wasn't she honest before she ever got pregnant? He would have married her if he'd known that's what she wanted. He would have done anything for her.

But shit this truth he'd learned it was bitter, it wasn't just something that rolled off. It cut clean to the bone. She'd planned to keep that baby away from him and not even fucking tell him he had a child. There was nothing okay about that.

He hadn't even gotten the bottle down from the cabinet. He was sick of being sick and feeling like crap every day and it wouldn't numb this pain anyway. He felt like he'd wasted a year of his life on a love that never was real. Oh it was real on his part, too real. But she couldn't possibly love him and do him this way. Make the decisions she'd made.

Shit she knew he always had a couple of condoms in his wallet, old habits die hard. They didn't have to pass on lovemaking just because she didn't have those pills. She'd done this, she'd planned it, and then she'd aced him out of the equation in a real bad way.

There was a knock on the door and he opened it to see her standing there. "What Beth? What now?"

"Please Merle, please can I talk to you?"

"I don't know Beth what the fuck is there left ta talk about? I know the deal, you know the deal. I'll pay everythin' for the baby, I'll go get the court ordered visitation rights an the child support shit worked out with the court. So yeah, I'd say we got it covered an there ain't nuthin' left ta talk about or decide."

She started to cry then but it wasn't working on him the way it always had, he just stood there with his hand on the door looking at her with cold, hard eyes. "Please Merle, let me try."

"Ya mean just the way you've always been so willin' ta let me try? Shit, twice I've broken into your house just so you'd lemme talk to ya. But I'm s'posed ta be all willin' ta be the dumb muther fucker who is happy ta give in ta whatever ya want. Without you breakin' a sweat. I never even thought about it that way, shit I's always so willin' ta change anythin' about me ya thought needed changin', willin' ta try an do everythin' your way then I found out all this shit today. An I know now there's always gonna be one more thing I need ta do, ta change, an then you'll still fuck me over an never even let me know why."

"I faced it an now ya need ta face it too, I ain't the man for ya Beth. I ain't ever gonna be able ta truly make ya happy or keep ya happy. Yer always gonna see me as a project an as little as this man here knows about love n relationships, I'm pretty fuckin' sure that ain't the way it's s'posed ta be. So yeah, no, just no. I'm done."

She couldn't believe that it was going to end this way. She thought she'd be fine walking away from him but now her heart was breaking. She didn't really think about what she was doing she just acted when she ran to him and threw her arms around his middle. She was holding onto him as tight as she could. He was not holding onto her, his arms were slack. "Please Merle please don't give up on me. I know I was wrong and so unfair, I messed this up so badly. Please give me a chance please. You're right and I was so wrong please let me prove to you how much I love you, please. I want us to be a family, you, me and the baby. Please I love you and I'm begging you."

And as much as he didn't want to give into what she wanted what he did want was his child. He'd never planned to have one but now that he was going to he wanted to be a part of that child's life. He sure as hell didn't want to be that guy who just dropped in every couple of weeks.

"Alright, but we ain't cozyin' up. Come an we'll sit at the kitchen table."

He got them both some sweet tea and then he said to her, "Well ya said ya wanted ta talk, whaddya wanna say? How ya gonna try n justify this?"

"I can't there is no justification, I was wrong. I did a terrible thing and I didn't even realize how bad it was until Becky pointed it out to me, I didn't just hurt you I hurt our baby and I don't think I can ever forgive myself for that Merle. Ever. I involved an innocent little life in my stupid attempt to manipulate you into marrying me. I knew you'd do the right thing, and then I don't even know what came over me, why I tried to just get away and not even tell you. I guess it was guilt but even that doesn't make sense. Whatever it was there was no excuse for it. As badly as I want this back with us, as much as I want you and me and our baby to be a family I can't blame you if you can't forgive me."

"Everything you said, everything Becky said, everything Daryl said was the truth. I've been selfish Merle. You've given and I've taken. You've made all the changes and adjustments to try and make me happy and I haven't changed a thing. I'm like a 14 year old spoiled brat."

"And now I've gotten myself in another pickle. I quit my job, gave up my apartment and gave my furniture away. I'm so stupid I can't believe you ever loved me."

Merle was a mix and a mess of emotions now himself. He'd expected her to come up with excuses but instead she'd been hard on herself, self-deprecating, harsh.

He took a deep breath. "I'm pretty sure I'm the world's biggest idiot but I got an idea. Ya stay here, but not with me, not in my bed. I ain't ready ta be that way with ya. I'm too hurt, too angry ta wanna make love to ya or ta even hold ya. But we'll see if we can come ta some kinda way of bein' together, see if we can get it back." He did want to hold her, he did want to make love to her but he was so hurt and he just couldn't risk it. How did he know that in the morning her mind wouldn't have changed again.

"Ya go Saturday an ya tell your Mama n Daddy the truth about what happened an how it happened, cuz dammit I ain't takin' the blame for this. I know it's always easy ta blame ol' Merle every time the shit gets deep, but ol' Merle ain't willin' ta take the fall this time."

She nodded. "Can I stay tonight, maybe just borrow a t-shirt?"

"Yeah, okay I guess. Just don't try ta play me no more Beth, I'm done with that shit."

She cried silent tears, "I won't Merle, I promise I won't."

He went in his room, came out and handed her a t-shirt. "I'm locking it up an goin' ta bed. I've had enough today. Ya know where everythin' is, ya do what ya want." And just like that he headed to his room and shut the door.

She went in the guest room and the first thing she did was go in the bathroom and throw up. She didn't think it had a thing to do with the baby. This had everything to do with the high emotions of the day. She used her finger to brush her teeth and she thought about the first time she stayed in this house. She didn't want to think about those things, it was all just so hard.

When she crawled in that bed she never thought she'd sleep, she just figured she'd lay there and think of him. She did think of him, but the day had taken its toll and she was out in five minutes. She didn't wake again until 8:30, she couldn't believe it. She knew he'd be gone. No matter what else he did Merle always went to work and he was always on time. She should have appreciated those little things about him all along.

Again she went in the bathroom and brushed her teeth as best she could with her finger. She was starving and she knew she was home alone so she came out of the bedroom in nothing but that t-shirt.

There he sat just like he'd been that first morning reading the paper, drinking coffee and an old Hank Williams tune on the radio. He looked to her and she looked in his eyes and she couldn't help herself, she started crying again, and not just a little, the body shaking, oxygen stealing sobs.

Merle Dixon couldn't take another minute of that. He got up and he went to her, put his arms around her and held her close, "The fuck Baby, what're we gonna do now, how we gonna make this right between us?"

It took her a few minutes to gain enough composure to answer, "I don't know I just know that's what I want and I want you to want it too. I want you to want me again, in every way."

"I know I don't deserve it Merle, but please, please trust me. I promise I will never do you wrong again. I love you let me prove that to you."

Merle Dixon knew he was an idiot, a first class sucker, but fuck he'd been a sucker for this woman since the first time he laid eyes on her. He knew he'd never be free of her whether she was here physically or not, that made no difference.

It started because he let it start, he needed this, he needed her. He was kissing her with a mix of pure physical need, love and angry passion. He took her in his room and they made a kind of hard love. He knew he was taking it out on her in that bed but she was receptive, willing and responsive. Her emotions were as raw as his.

After they never said a word to one another, they just lay there in the bed and they held on.

Finally he spoke. "I'll go with ya ta your place, we'll get your boxes a stuff, whatever you was plannin' ta take ta your folks' place we'll bring it here. I still feel like ya oughta be the one ta speak ta yer folks 'bout what happened, but I'll drive ya if ya want. Then I think its best ya stay here, we'll see if we can keep gettin' along, see if there's any fuckin' way we can make this work. If after some time it seems like we can then I'd marry ya Beth, a course I would. I woulda done that long ago, I just didn't ever think of it really an ya never told me it was what ya wanted. I thought we was good, I thought you was happy. Shit I was happy."

"An I'm gonna be real honest with ya Beth. I still got a lotta anger 'bout all this an a kind of hurt an pain I ain't never felt. I don't like it, I don't want it, but I know it ain't goin' away easy. This here is gonna take time."

"I know Merle, I understand and I am so sorry. I'm going to do everything possible to show you how much I love you, to rebuild your faith and your trust in me. All I can do for now is promise you that I love you and I'll never again, ever just shut you out and not let you have your say, not share my feelings and thoughts with you. And I always want to hear your thoughts and your feelings. I love you so much Merle, I promise that's the Gods' truth."

Three Months Later

That Saturday morning they were at Daryl and Becky's early to help with setting everything up, Michonne and Rick were there to help as well. Daryl was manning the smoker and Becky was putting the finishing touches on the cake. Little Nash Dixon was sound asleep in his cradle, not far from his Mama.

They'd wanted to have the wedding here at Daryl and Becky's to accommodate Becky's needs. She said she'd go wherever she had to just to be a part of the celebration, but Merle and Beth both knew how tough that would be on her and they didn't want that.

Merle Dixon was nervous but he was without doubt that this was what he wanted. He'd been in love with Beth Greene since the first time he'd seen her. They'd had some rough goes, but since the blow up over the baby, since they'd taken the advice of Daryl and Becky and started talking about what mattered and listening to each other, things were so good, solid.

That was part of the vow they would make to each other today. To talk and to listen. To bend when needed, and to never just shut down and shut the other person out.

This was the happiest day in Beth Greene's life. It wasn't just that she was marrying this man that she loved so much, but she was so happy he'd been able to forgive her. And their relationship was so much better now. They talked, they listened and she took care to think of Merle's needs as well as her own.

She loved staying home and taking care of their home and Merle and for now, at least until the baby was born she had time for her music and time for her painting. Merle always encouraged her in her artistic pursuits and she loved how he always wanted to hear her new songs, and how he still loved watching her paint. She shuddered at the idea that she'd almost lost this good man because of a couple of bad decisions. She promised both him and herself she'd never let anything like that happen again.

They hadn't invited a big crowd, that didn't really suit either one of them, plus they considered Becky. In fact they'd brought Beth's family here a couple of times so they could get to know Becky and Daryl, and so Becky would feel comfortable around them.

Her Mama and Daddy would be here, her sister Maggie and Maggie's husband Glenn, her brother Shawn was coming solo, Rick and Michonne of course, Becky's family and Agnes.

Daryl would be standing up with Merle and Becky with her. Her Daddy was an ordained minister and he'd officiate.

The brief ceremony was about to begin. Merle was standing with her Daddy to one side of him and Daryl to the other. Merle wore a suit, as did her Daddy. Daryl had a shirt with sleeves intact that Becky had made him and a clean pair of jeans. That was good enough for Merle and Beth.

Becky's Mama was holding little Nash and everyone was smiling waiting for Becky and Beth to walk out of the cabin.

Becky came first in a dress that reached just below her knees and her sleeves came only to her elbows. For some reason she didn't even understand, since Nash had been born she'd lost some of her need to keep her body so hidden under heavy clothes.

Then came Beth and when Merle saw her his smile went ear to ear. The woman was a beauty. She'd been apprehensive about wearing white, she was five and a half months pregnant, but Merle had insisted she should wear what she wanted. No one there was going to be worrying about that.

He was so glad she'd listened because there was nothing about her that wasn't beautiful, wasn't perfect. And he was quite fond of that rounded little belly.

The ceremony was short, love-filled and just what they'd had in mind. All either of them had really wanted was to just make this commitment, for themselves and that baby they were so looking forward to.

The party was as nice as the ceremony itself. Daryl and smoke cooked venison roast and Becky and Michonne had made all the trimmings. After the party Merle and Beth were going to the beach for a week to just relax and enjoy each other. They thought that was important for them. No work, no phones, just them.

Four Months Later

Merle was in that delivery room with her, just like he'd told her he would be. He'd been to all those classes and he knew what was expected of him. What he thought he was prepared for was what she'd be going through, but no, there was no way they could have prepared him for this.

She was in pain and he could hardly stand seeing that, he wanted to fix it and right now. But he played it cool, he didn't want to upset her he was there to support her. So he just let her squeeze the blood right out of his hand, he had no idea how strong a grip his wife had. Then during a particularly rough pain, when she said "Oh shit," as upset as he was to see her hurting, it was all he could do not to laugh. He had never heard that word out of her.

After a very long labor that baby girl finally arrived. Merle was overwhelmed with the love he immediately felt for their daughter. They hadn't known if they were having a boy or a girl, but they had names picked out for both.

He'd refused Merle and she'd refused Beth, other than that they'd been open. She remembered him admitting to her that when he first saw her place he hadn't liked all those flowered sheets and bedding, and the floral decorations at her house. But he'd grown to think that was all just right, it suited her and so it suited him. And that's when she'd laughed and suggested the name and he agreed.

He kissed his exhausted wife, "Ya done so good Cupcake, damn you're a tough one. And our little girl, aw Beth she's a beauty just like her Mama. Our sweet little Rose."

A/N Aw, pity the man who ever tries to date sweet little Rose! This concludes our story. I hope you've enjoyed it. I know there are those who may think I was a little rough on Beth, but I did think that in spite of his often dumbass ways, Merle always did the best a man like Merle knows how to do. And what she did would be hard for any man to forgive. But love conquers all. I don't have a Merle story I'm working on so if you have a one shot or multi chapter idea for him please send them my way. If they fit into my style and my interpretation of Merle, I'll be happy to try my best for you. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this story, I really do appreciate you. Kindly leave a comment / review. xo

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