By now you all know that I'm a Mether first and a Caryler second. Bear with me as I start this story with my favorite couple. To Mr. Rooker, Mr. Reedus, Ms. McBride and Ms. Kinney - I warned you that I would only marry you off if it was humorous. So here you go.
The Wedding(s)
The truce between Andrea's Woodbury and Rick's prison group was hammered out. Rick's group would stay at the prison and with help from Woodbury volunteers would secure it in its entirety for occupation by both groups. Andrea would make sure that the prison was well defended and help out with supplies when needed.
Now that they were largely relieved from around the clock watches Rick's group had a chance to plan their course of action. This involved many trips to Woodbury. Merle, Glen and Daryl, who met with Andrea to decide that the prison group would clean out the rest of the Woodbury supplies to stock the prison, conducted the most recent trip. In two days at Woodbury they were able to assemble supplies that would make life easier at the prison - more artillery, food, clothes, shoes, medical supplies, contraceptives and several real beds that were all loaded into a stock trailer for transport.
The night before Beth had waited in bed for Merle but when she started foreplay he fell deep asleep from exhaustion. She sighed and grudgingly went to sleep. The next morning he rose before she did to get vehicles together for the Woodbury trip and they had no chance to be together before he left that afternoon. He ran his hand through her hair as she stood by the car, frustrated and sad. He tried to comfort her by saying, "Look missy, I'll make it up to ya, hear? Soon I'll be puttin it to ya mornin', noon and night on our new bed". He ground his hips into hers to illustrate his point. She pushed her feelings aside and smiled and kissed him goodbye making sure that he got a lot of tongue action so he wouldn't forget about her.
Two days later they pulled their convoy into the prison and she burst from the cellblock. As Merle got out of the truck her heard her boots skipping across the pavement and caught her as she jumped into his arms. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and kissed him heartily. "Miss me sugar?" he whispered hoarsely as he squeezed her ass. She nodded rapidly. "Yer pa's comin out," he said, gently dropping her back to the pavement.
She was happy and humming as she helped unload supplies. Rick and the other men were having a deep discussion in the prison yard. Beth was surprised when they turned the cars around to face the gate. She looked at Rick questioningly. He addressed the group that was gathered around the cars.
"Andrea's got men meeting our group in town to loot the box stores today. It will take all day but with Maggie and Glen going along we should be able to get the majority of supplies loaded up and back here by dark. Let's make sure these vehicles are unloaded then get them on their way."
Beth looked at Merle, who grimaced and scratched his head. He approached her and said "I didn't get a chance to tell ya about the plan." Beth didn't know if she was more angry or sad. She decided to go with sad. "Oh Merle," she said piteously, her shoulders hunching. She turned from him and walked back to the prison, kicking a rock in front of her. She slouched into the laundry room because it was the most internal room in the cleared portion of the prison and there she wouldn't hear them leave. She worked through mountains of laundry while the others excitedly picked over the new stuff. Soon she felt bad for not saying goodbye. What if he gets hurt or killed and he thinks I don't love him? She frowned and cried over the laundry.
Merle watched her go wishing he had time to pull her into the showers for a quick fuck. Sometimes he forgot how young she was and he felt like a first class shitheel for letting his woman go unsatisfied. I'll figure out how to make it up to her, he thought.
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Carol helped Beth hang and fold laundry and they discussed the plan for the evening. Carol sheepishly asked if Beth would take overnight Judith duty because she needed some alone time with Daryl and Rick was taking night watch. Beth couldn't say no because Carol was always sacrificing herself for others. Somebody should be getting some action, thought Beth glumly.
The group that went on the run came back after dark so the Woodbury people that accompanied them needed to spend the night. Beth, Carol and Carl helped get things set up for them in B block then Beth reheated dinner for everyone. She and Carol distributed plates of hot food to everyone in the kitchen. When Beth put Merle's down she made sure to slam it hard enough to make his canned peas jump onto the table. He narrowed his eyes and growled something only to have Hershel raise his eyebrows at him. Merle hunched over his plate and ate sullenly, occasionally glaring at Beth and planning to tease her until she begged for it tonight.
Judith was finicky that night and didn't eat well. Beth tried to burp the gas out of her but it was stuck. It didn't help Beth's state of mind to hear the sighs and moans coming from Daryl's cell. The baby slept fitfully in her arms and after a long while Beth was able to get her down. Finally she made it to their cell where Merle awaited her in their new bed. His shirt was off and he was lying on his back with his arms behind his head. She kicked off her boots and jeans and crawled over the top of him. She was panting before she even met his lips and she wasted no time rubbing against him and slipping her tongue in his mouth. She wanted satisfaction now.
She wriggled out the rest of her clothes as she writhed on top of him. She was delighted when he flipped her and mounted her but then she realized he still had pants on. He took over slowing the tempo of her kisses and she grunted in frustration. He chuckled and moved to her neck. She was pinned and getting pissed. Softly his tongue circled her nipples then he sucked them each to a point. She was moaning and clawing at his back with her legs wrapped around him. She couldn't stop moving her hips against him. He moved his hardness away from her as he moved his mouth down and she tried to pull him back up. He slowly nuzzled her pubic hair, inhaling her scent and lazily flicking his tongue over her swollen clit. She thought her heart would explode.
She was surprised when he flipped her over and started rubbing the scruff of his beard over her back. He kissed and tongued the two dimples above her hips and moved his way down to kiss her ass cheeks. His finger slipped into her pussy as he bit her ass and she jumped and begged him as she insistently fucked his finger.
He rose to kneeling and undid his fly then pulled his pants off. She looked behind her to see that his erect cock was swollen and purple. She waited impatiently and raised herself into the air as he ripped open the condom package with his teeth and rolled it over his hardness. She closed her eyes anticipating his entry.
"Fuck," Merle swore. Beth looked back. The condom had broken. She was just processing this when Judith's scream pierced the quiet of the sleeping cellblock. "No," Beth moaned. She fell onto the bed with tears of frustration stinging her eyes. She cried quietly while she threw her clothes back on. Merle saw her tears and felt a pang of guilt. He knew he shouldn't have teased her. "Aw sugar," he started. Beth shook her head and stomped off to feed the baby. By the time she got back Merle was asleep.
She awoke at first light and reached over to grab the box of condoms then growled and hopped onto Merle. She was in charge and was determined that nothing was going to screw this up. The cellblock awoke to the sound of her muffled screams as he dutifully paid her what she was owed.
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Carl had carefully made a map of the region with all the store locations marked and color coded with their status as far as supplies. Rick pored over it to devise a logical plan. They needed gasoline above all other things so Rick ordered Daryl, Glen and Merle to the nearest convenience store that hadn't already been looted. The three set about preparing for the trip the next morning. Merle walked swiftly to Hershel's cell. He found the old man resting in bed with his hurt leg propped.
Merle stopped in the doorway. "Need to talk to ya," he said gruffly. After Merle left Hershel looked down at his folded hands. Not what I would have asked for but I trust You in Your wisdom, he prayed silently. Then he chuckled. His ways are mysterious.
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It took them several hours but they were able to get enough gasoline to fill all the cans they had brought. They also grabbed cases of motor oil and transmission fluid while they were there. Once they were loaded up Merle nodded towards a small mom and pop jewelry store. "Cover me," he barked. Daryl squinted at him. "Aint gonna be many guns in there," he said. Merle faced him and fixed him with a steely gaze. "I'm gettin' missy a ring," he said. "Make an honest woman outta her." Daryl gaped while Merle strapped his gun on his shoulder and jogged to the storefront.
Glen's head spun. He thought about Beth getting a ring from Merle. And about Beth showing that ring off. And the first person that Beth would show the ring - Maggie. Who he had started dating before Beth and Merle even met. He envisioned Maggie stabbing him in the throat in his sleep.
"Shit,' said Glen. "Cover me too." And he jogged to the store.
Minutes later the two came out grinning. They jogged back towards Daryl who was looking at them like they had each grown a second head. Merle puffed, "Wasn't sure what she liked so I just grabbed a bunch of 'em. Shoulda stole jewelry instead of dealin' drugs before the world went to shit." Glen skidded up to them. "I got one. It's the one she'd pick, I know it." Merle looked at Daryl with a grin. "Want one brother? Or do I have to ask her for ya?" he asked pointedly. Daryl answered with a 'Pfft" and got behind the wheel.
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Merle took two of the old prison mattresses up to the roof when he got home from the run. He carefully squirrelled the rings away in his ammo bag so she wouldn't find them. When she fell asleep that night he jammed them in his pants pocket. At first light he woke her up quietly. "Come on angel, got a surprise for ya."
She took his hand as he cautiously made their way to the roof. He surveyed and found it was clear. She smiled when she saw the mattresses. He turned to her and took her into his arms. "I wanna make love to ya while the sun comes up," he said. She beamed at him and encircled his head with her arms. He knew how she missed the woods at the farm and this was the safest way to surround her with them.
When they were done she lay against his chest and listened to the woods wake up just as she had always done as a child. In that moment she could almost imagine a world with no walkers again. She lightly plopped on top of him and nuzzled her nose on his. "Thank you," she said. He looked into her eyes and saw the gentle love she had for him in their depths. He kissed her softly and hugged her to him. "Gotta get goin'," he said. She nodded, kissed his chin and stood up to dress.
He dressed and looked at her standing in the early morning sun and almost lost his nerve. He didn't deserve anything so beautiful or good. But if he didn't ask he'd regret it for whatever was left of his miserable life.
"C'mere," he said, pulling her towards him. He sank to his knees and buried his face in her stomach, his arms encircling her waist. She smiled tenderly and stroked the short brown curls on the top of his head. The words that she usually thought when they were intimate popped into her head. I'm his and he's mine.
He looked up at her and held her eyes. "Ain't got no right to ask ya this - yer a lady and I'm not mucha anythin'. But I love ya. Think ya wanna marry this ole beat up redneck?" he asked, his voice heavy with emotion. Her face broke into a huge sunny smile. "Yes," she breathed. "Yes." His breath loosened in his chest and he exhaled. "I asked yer pa first and he said OK. I knew ya'd want that." Beth was running her hands through his short hair and smiling, barely able to contain her energy. OMG, wait til I tell Maggie!
He dug in his pocket. "Wasn't sure what ya'd like so you can pick." He laid the rings on the mattress and she gasped. There was only one that she noticed and it was perfect - a pear cut diamond on yellow gold. And the diamond was BIG! She hunted around and found two diamond bands to flank it. She tried them on and they were all a bit loose but she could fix that with yarn. She looked up with her eyes sparkling. "What do you think?" she asked. "Not as purty as you, but nice," he said in an amused voice. She gave him the rest of the rings and he pocketed them then she took the ones off of her finger. She handed him the two bands. "You put these on during the ceremony," she said. "Ceremony?" he asked. Damn, I thought this was it. Ceremony? She laughed. "You put this one on me now," she said, handing him the one with the rock. At first he tried to put it on her middle finger and she corrected him, laughing and reaching up to kiss him. She was hopping up and down. "Let's go tell everybody," she said, practically vibrating with excitement.
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Glen woke up first and he was already nervous. Shit, Merle's probably already done it, he thought. Glen had asked and received permission from Hershel last night but he didn't know how to do this. He had hoped that if he slept on it an idea would come to him. He didn't want to do it in the prison, it was too dark and depressing. He ticked off possible sites. Motor pool, prison yard, watch tower. None of them were particularly romantic.
"Maggie, wake up," he whispered. "We're going on a drive."
"Why are we here again?" asked Maggie as they topped the ridge. They had only had to hit three walkers on the way out which was pretty good. "Something to show you," he said again. "At daybreak?" Maggie yawned. He parked and sighed in relief. The trees were still blooming. "I wanted to show you the dogwoods and redbuds. They're almost as pretty as you." Maggie looked at the immense span of pink and white flowering trees. "They're beautiful," she said turning to kiss him.
"Um," said Glen. Then he froze. He couldn't get the words out. He was scared shitless. She looked at him. "Are you OK?" she asked with concern. "You look like you have a fever." Glen emitted a queer high-pitched laugh. "Just a fever for you, ha ha." Maggie looked at him with a frown. "Maggie," he trailed. She shook her head sarcastically. "Spit it out Glen," she said. She noticed that there was sweat dripping down the sides of his face.
"Shit," he said. "I had a plan to say something nice and I can't remember it and I just want to ask you to marry me." It all came out in a rush and he slapped his hand over his mouth. He didn't want it to sound this stupid. "What?" asked Maggie in disbelief. Glen dug in his pocket and produced the ring. "Maggie Greene, I'm not good enough for you, but would you please marry me?" Maggie screamed and hugged him. "Yes!" she shouted. She inspected the ring. It was an emerald cut diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds on white gold. "Put it on! Oh God it's beautiful, I love it!" They made out until the walkers that were drawn by her shouts reached the car.
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Daryl watched Carol as she slept. He couldn't imagine loving anyone else. He wondered when the shit was going to hit the fan today and how she'd react. He pressed himself against her back and buried his face in the crook of her neck.
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Beth burst into the kitchen. "Where's Maggie?" she asked excitedly, hopping up and down. Just then Maggie burst in from outside calling, "Beth!" They ran to each other and lifted their hands at the same time then screamed while they hugged. "We're getting married! Oh my God!" They carefully inspected each other's rings and hugged again. "Let's get married together!" said Beth. "Oh my god, yes!" squealed Maggie. They jumped around the room showing everyone their rings.
The men had largely shrunk back in a row against the wall. "Together?" gulped Glen. "Ceremony," spat Merle pinching the bridge of his nose. Daryl smirked quietly besides them. Rick laughed. "You two have no idea do you? After you go through this you'll know why most people only do it once."
Daryl looked over at Carol. She was inspecting the rings with a huge smile on her face. She kissed both girls and laughed when they hopped away. She put her hands over her mouth and watched them with her eyes crinkled, tears of happiness flowing. She looked over at Daryl and smiled broadly. She was so happy for them.
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The women sorted through the clothes that were sent from Woodbury. Michonne found a hot black minidress that made all the women go 'Ooo!" She grabbed a pair of black heels and squirreled them away in her cell. Carol found a long sundress patterned in a spectrum of blues that highlighted her eyes. A pair of long silver earrings and some blue flip-flops and she was done. She hugged them all and left to hang the dress in the laundry room. Maggie and Beth went through every piece of clothing. Maggie found a white sundress in her size and frowned. How to make this a wedding dress? She found a pair of white sandals that would work and a set of fake pearls. She sighed. No veil. That's what would have really made it. Oh well, this will work.
Beth sifted through the clothes with rapt concentration. There had to be something here she liked. Beth had been planning this day since she was three years old. She had planned a beautiful gown with a long train and six bridesmaids and elegant flowers and a catered dinner with a quartet playing classical music.
The only dress in her size that had any kind of style was red. Not just red but fire engine red. She looked at it dejectedly. "Oh Bethy," said Maggie, reading the signs. "Maybe hot colors are the new style for weddings." Beth's eyes filled with tears. "Yeah for hookers," she said sadly. Maggie rushed over to her and hugged her. "We'll fix it honey. Somehow we'll fix it, OK?" Beth nodded and took the dress upstairs to the cell she and Merle occupied.
He was there cleaning the weapons in his hunting bag. "Any luck missy?" he asked not noticing her dejected expression. Beth shrugged and hung the dress off the mirror above the sink. Merle glanced at it and said, "Looks good." Beth's chin trembled. "I hate it," she said in a trembling voice. "Why?" asked Merle mystified. Looked like a dress to him. "Look at it," she said in a thick voice. He looked at it again.
"Why 'cause it's red? Well hell sugar ain't no one thanks you a virgin anyways," he said. Beth exhaled sharply, blowing out tears. "Oh," she said as the hot knife sank in her guts. She backed up to the door and sobbed as she quickly walked out. She blindly went down the stairs and headed outside.
Carol appeared in his doorway. She had been folding clothes in Daryl's cell and heard the whole thing. "How dare you?" she hissed at Merle. "What?" yelled Merle who by now was wishing weddings were never invented. "You just shattered her. Every girl plans their wedding from the time they're kids. And you just smashed her dreams and called her a whore." Merle stood up and pointed his barrel brush at Carol menacingly. "I ain't never called her no whore," he growled. Carol rolled her eyes in exasperation and motioned to the dress. "Well that does," she said emphatically.
Merle was fed up. "it's just a day. What the fuck is everybody het up about? Act like you don't remember we're up to our necks in shit." Carol took a few steps into his cell and ran a hand through her hair. "Merle, a girl's wedding day is the only day of her life where everyone looks at her. It's her day. Beth's sensitive and she's only going to get married once in her life. She needs it to be special." Merle snorted in exasperation. "Well what the fuck ya want me to do about it?" he seethed. Carol sighed. There were only two options, best to opt for the safest. "Take her to Andrea,' she said gently.
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Beth twirled in front of the mirror while Andrea looked on. "We've only got a few," said Andrea. "We'd need you to bring it back." She smiled warmly as she looked at Beth smoothing the dress with awe. it was made of chiffon with a scoop neck and beading and had a small diamond shaped opening just under the neckline. It was tea length and the white shoes that went with it were only about half a size too big. To top it off there was a floral rhinestone comb for her hair. For the first time since the apocalypse happened Beth felt beautiful. She hugged Andrea and cried.
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"You'll shower and you'll like it. You're shaving too. And while you're at it trim your beard." Daryl looked at Carol in disbelief. "It ain't my wedding," he protested. She took a step closer and bored her eyes into his. "Half the people in your family are getting married today including your brother. You're going to look presentable." She handed him a clean set of clothes from the Woodbury load. New underwear and socks, black khakis and a light blue button up shirt. Daryl shuffled into the shower wondering when the hell everyone had gone crazy. Carol opened the door and yelled in, "And don't you dare take the sleeves off!" Rick was already in there scrubbing shampoo into Carl's hair. Carl was protesting as mightily as Daryl. Hershel had just finished and was leaving to get out of the way.
The two grooms soon joined them. Merle's military shower took exactly two minutes and thirty seconds. He spent five times that at the sink shaving and primping. Glen on the other hand looked like he was going to vomit. He stood under the cold water until Daryl smacked him on the shoulder. Merle looked at Glen's reflection in the mirror. "Don't nobody order no take out," he said. "Looks like short roll there's gettin cold feet. May not come back from the delivery." Glen was too nervous to even tell Merle to shove it.
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After the women kicked the freshly scrubbed men out they started their preparations. Carol had used a precious cake mix to make a wedding cake and she let Carl frost it with canned frosting. Good thing these things are so full of preservatives that they never spoil, she thought. All the girls had showered in the morning and let their hair air dry. Maggie was the one that had the rebar idea. She brought in a short piece of rebar that she had scrubbed clean. "Curling iron!" she said triumphantly. They heated the rebar over the stove flame and carefully curled Maggie and Beth's hair in the front.
Beth looked at Maggie knowing that she had really wanted a veil. Beth looked at the beautiful comb in her lap. She handed it across the table. "Here Maggie," she said. "You wear it." Maggie squealed with delight and Carol carefully wrapped and pinned her hair then set the comb in it. Maggie looked in the mirror. "Wow," she said. "I forgot what it was like to care about how I look."
Beth looked at the pile of flowers on the table. "Can you do a French knot and put flowers in it?" she asked Carol. Carol said, "Well I'll do my best!" Soon the girls agreed that their hair looked fantastic. Maggie looked around and said conspiratorially, "I've got some stuff to share." She walked to her cell and came back with her duffel bag. She pulled out brand new cosmetics still in the package; eyeliner, mascara, lipstick and powder. She looked at Michonne and said, "I couldn't find darker powder. There was a walker following me." Michonne shrugged and said, "Lipstick is enough." Maggie grinned. "Last but not least," she said. She pulled out a bottle of peach schnapps and a bottle of butterscotch schnapps.
Just then Andrea walked in. "Hi guys, what's going on?" She stopped when she saw Maggie and Beth. "Oh your hair is beautiful!" She spied the cosmetics on the table. "Can I do your makeup?" she asked. "I'd love it," said Maggie and Beth agreed. They broke open the bottles and tried the liquor by swigs. The peach schnapps was passed to Beth and she regarded it like poison. Maggie laughed. "No time to be a puritan now Bethy, you're about to give yourself away to a man." Beth smelled it then tasted it. "Ew," she said as it went down, "it burns." She thought a minute. "But it's sweet like candy." She took another swig and winced. "Let me try the other one," she said.
Andrea started in on their makeup. It turned out that she had an expert touch especially with eyes. Carol and Michonne gaped at the girls. They had never seen them made up before and they looked so elegant. "Did you get blush?" asked Carol. "Nope, no time," said Maggie. Carol cocked her head. "Then why are Beth's cheeks so red?" Beth looked around. "Hmmm?" she asked. She started to laugh. "Oh my God. I'm marrying a biker and Maggie's marrying a Korean!" Beth laughed harder, holding her stomach. Maggie shook the nearly empty butterscotch schnapps bottle that was in front of Beth. "Uh oh," she said.
Quickly they tried to get some coffee into Beth who tried to pour schnapps into it. It was getting close to the ceremony and Hershel was already inside setting up the area where the two couples would stand in the cellblock. Andrea walked Beth around to try to work off the alcohol. Maggie was in her cell with Carol getting on her dress and Andrea wondered what to do with a very animated and slightly unsteady Beth. She asked Michonne to get Daryl or Merle.
Michonne sauntered into the courtyard and consulted with Daryl. Daryl shook his head and found Merle who was drinking bourbon in the motor pool with Glen. "Hey," Daryl said. "There's a little problem with Beth."
Merle stood in the doorway of Hershel's cell. He was dressed in a black button up shirt and black pants. Andrea was trying to fix Beth's smeared makeup before she got her into the dress. When Beth saw Merle she squealed and rushed unsteadily to him, jumping into his arms. She kissed him and said, "I'm gonna marry your big fine ass. Hey! You're not supposed to see me in my dress!" Merle looked down at her frowning. "Sugar you ain't in no dress and you're shitfaced." Beth laughed then laughed harder. "Shitfaced," she said. "That word is hilarious!" Hershel showed up beside Merle. "Do we have a problem here?" Beth hung onto Merle's neck and looked at Hershel. She said, "Daddy, I'm going to marry his big fine ass. I love him so much." Hershel's eyebrows hit his hairline. Andrea pulled Beth down off of Merle. "Come on honey, we've got to get you dressed." She looked questioningly at Merle. "Sugar you gonna be able to walk?" he asked. Beth looked at him, confused. "I don't get a horse?" Andrea sighed.
Soon everyone was assembled in the cellblock and Hershel began his sermon. Beth and Merle stood on the left side and Maggie and Glen on the right. Hershel's sermon concentrated on the fragility of life and the strength of hope. He used the new couples as an example of the hope that their community needed to share to survive. The small crowd of people stood around them in a half circle and prayed the blessing together. Daryl and Carol stood off to the left so he could be close to Merle. Daryl turned to look at her. She was gazing at the couples with joy on her face and tears in her eyes. He'd never seen her as beautiful as she was tonight in that dress with a touch of makeup around her eyes and mouth.
Hershel prepared the couples for their vows and Daryl looked over at Carol. "You want all this mess?" he asked. She looked at him surprised. "A wedding?" she asked. She reached down and held his hand. "Not unless you do." She reached up to kiss him then turned her attention back to the ceremony. He cleared his throat. "Cause we can," he mumbled. She looked at him questioningly and he swallowed hard. He dug the ring out of his pocket. "You wanna?" Carol's mouth opened in surprise. "Here? Now?" she whispered. He nodded slightly and she beamed. "Yes," she said simply.
Daryl pulled her up to the makeshift altar and stood before Hershel. Hershel looked at them questioningly. Daryl cleared his throat, obviously nervous. "Can you fit us in?" he asked. The girls gasped in surprise and Glen said, "Whoa!" Merle laughed and said, "I'll be damned boy you finally did it." Hershel motioned them to stand on the other side of Glen and Maggie. Daryl and Carol still held hands and Carol had her mouth covered with her other hand. She was blushing and beaming and crying and laughing all at the same time.
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"Do you Merle Maynard Dixon take Bethany Josephine Greene to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward?"
"Hell yeah, it's why I'm standin' here ain't it?"
"Do you Bethany Josephine...
(whisper) "I'm about to marry your big fine ass" (rumbling) "Listen to yer pa sugar"
"Do YOU Bethany Josephine Greene take Merle Maynard Dixon to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward?" (stern whisper) "Say I do Bethany"
(giggling) "I do Bethany"
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(sighing) "Do you Glen Kim Rhee take Margaret Aileen Greene to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward?"
"I do. God Maggie you're so beautiful."
"Do you Margaret Aileen Greene take Glen Kim Rhee to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward?
"Yes, I do!"
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"Do you Daryl..." (whispered) "What's your middle name son?"
"Daryl's fine"
(from the left side) "I'll tell ya his middle name. Whatsa matter boy, ashamed of ya family name?"
(glowering) "DARYL'S FINE!"
(sighing) "Do you Daryl Dixon take Carol Anne Peletier to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward?"
(softly) Yeah.
"Do you Carol Anne Peletier take Daryl Dixon to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward?"
Carol beamed through her tears and nodded. "I do," she said.
(whisper from the left) "Delton" (giggling)
"SHUT UP MERLE!"
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After the couples kissed and were introduced everyone gathered for a hot meal of ramen noodles with shredded rabbit followed by cake. A bottle of wine and a bottle of whiskey appeared and made the rounds though everyone kept them from Beth. Michonne and Tyreese surprised the couples with a duet of 'Just You and I'. Most noticed that Rick and Andrea danced slowly to the song.
Beth was the first to want to leave. Everyone in the cellblock who had been living with Merle and Beth's exuberant sex life had unanimously voted to let them have the warden's office for the night. She had spent the morning getting it ready and she wanted to get there. She made her way to Merle who was drinking bourbon with Rick and Daryl.
Merle's arm automatically went around her when she brushed against him. "I've been thinking about our honeymoon night," she said, a wide smile on her flushed face and the flowers in her hair hanging by their stems. "You got a treat for old Merle?" Merle asked her with faux innocence, his eyes hungry. He had almost swallowed his tongue when he saw her in that dress and now he wanted to get it off of her. She smiled then rose up on her toes and cupped her hand to his ear.
As Beth whispered Merle's face changed from surprise to incredulity. "Where the hell did you learn that?" he asked hoarsely. She smiled at him. "I just thought about it today," she said sweetly. Merle looked at her hard. "You thought about THAT?" he asked. She looked at him seriously and said "Yeah, but I'm not sure where the bottom leg would go".
The words rushed out of Merle's mouth. "We're gonna find out", he barked as he ducked low and slung Beth over his shoulder. "Honeymoon's started", he called over his shoulder as he strode out of the kitchen and towards the bathrooms. The revelers could hear Beth laughing and squealing as they made their way down to the office.
Maggie watched Merle carry Beth away. "That's so romantic," she said wistfully. Glen agreed and said without thinking, "i'd do it but I don't think I could lift you." Hershel winced and Maggie's mouth dropped open. "What did you say?" she asked indignantly. "Oh shit, sorry Maggie I wasn't thinking. I can probably carry you," he said quickly. Maggie growled and stalked off to their cell with Glen running behind her, "Aw Maggie!"
Carol examined her ring. It was a small heart shaped diamond on a thin gold band. She thought it was the most beautiful thing in the world. Daryl caught her looking at it and smirked. The story of Merle and Glen pilfering the jewelry store had made the rounds and Carol had heard it. She looked at Daryl and said, "I didn't know that you went into the jewelry store with them." He looked at her steadily. "I didn't" he replied.
She looked at him quizzically. "Then how did you get the ring?" she asked.
"I've had it since the first run outta the prison" he replied.
Well there you go, Daryl wasn't as slow of a mover as we thought! Please review!