By dusk, everyone was tired. Carol and Beth had prepared a meal with some help from Marty. When everyone sat down to eat, Merle noticed that his baby brother made sure to get a seat next to Carol. Daryl was on her right and Axel on her left. Merle had to look down and cover his mouth to hide a smile. This could turn out to be fun.

After they ate, Merle and Marty went to the cell they'd been assigned. He lay down on the bunk and she snuggled in next to his side. There was barely enough room for the two of them but it didn't matter. He couldn't sleep now unless he was next to her. She talked to him for a few minutes but it didn't take long for her to fall fast asleep. The growing baby made her more tired than usual. Despite his effort to stay awake, he was soon dozing beside her.

Daryl walked by their cell and stopped for a minute. Rick came up behind him on his way to meet with the rest of the group about Merle staying at the prison.

"What is it?" Rick whispered to Daryl.

"Just don't think I've ever seen my brother sleep like that lessen he was passed out," Daryl answered.

"Do you think he's really changed?" Rick asked quietly.

Daryl nodded. "He's changed. I know my brother or I did know him. She's changed him," he said as he pointed toward Marty.

They looked at each other and walked on to the room where everyone was gathered to discuss their newest arrival. Judith was asleep but everyone else was present.

Rick stepped to the front of the group. "I know we're all tired so I'll make this quick. I want to know what y'all think about Merle and Marty stayin' here with us. Then we'll take a vote."

Glen stood up first. "I don't like it. I don't trust him. We know what he's capable of. Sure, he helped us out by killing the governor but we don't know what he's up to now." He looked to Maggie who nodded in agreement.

Hershel looked around at the rest of the group before speaking, "I hate to side against Maggie and Glen but I think he could be an asset. He killed the man who was our enemy. He's a skilled hunter and fighter. He's loyal to his brother and seems to care deeply for Marty. He's capable of good if we give him a chance. I think we should let him stay at least for a while. See what happens."

Carol told them that she was in agreement with Hershel. She looked to Daryl and asked, "What do you think, Daryl? He's your brother. You know him better than anyone."

Daryl was never comfortable speaking. He rubbed his chin as if in thought. "Merle seems different to me. He's calmer, more even. I don't know if it's Marty or maybe he's stayed clean long enough to clear his head. I think we should give him a chance, at least until the baby comes."

"Well," Rick said, "Unless somebody else has anything to say, I guess we should vote. Let's see hands for anyone who thinks he should leave?"

Glen and Maggie both raised their hands. Glen looked to Daryl and said, "Sorry, man."

Daryl just grunted, '"Salright brother."

"Okay, then all those in favor of a let's say 3 month probationary period?" Rick asked.

Rick raised his hand along with Hershel, Beth, Carl, Axel, Carol, Michonne and Daryl.

"Well, I guess he's staying for a while, then," Rick told them. "I'll tell him in the morning. Thanks everybody. I think I'm gonna head to bed now. Judy'll be up at the crack of dawn." Michonne stood up and followed him out.

Rick lay awake a long time after he and Michonne got in bed. She lay spooned against him. Their relationship was still new. He fell for her after watching the way she was with Carl and Judith. She was a strong woman, tough as they come but she had a soft side that she didn't show to the rest of the world. He found her contradictions fascinating.

Tonight, though, it wasn't Michonne that he was thinking about as he lay there. He was worried about what Merle Dixon's presence was going to do to his family. Merle was unpredictable at best and could easily be downright destructive. If he proved to be a distraction or a troublemaker, Rick was going to have to send him packing along with his very pregnant 'wife'.

The woman was another issue. What if things didn't go well when she delivered the baby? If anything happened to Marty or the baby, Merle was bound to go off and not just on a trip to crazy town as Rick himself had done. No, Merle would want to make someone pay. Hershel or Carol might end up in his line of fire. It was going to be an interesting few months learning to deal with the man. He hoped he was up for it.

His racing thoughts and twitching about eventually woke Michonne. "What's got you all in knots tonight, cowboy?" she asked him sleepily.

"Just too much thinkin'. Worryin' about Merle, about everythin' as usual," he said as he looked down into her sleepy face.

"You know I have an old remedy for sleeplessness. Did I ever tell you about it?" she asked as she sat up and pulled her t-shirt over her head. "Maybe we should try it and see if it helps you relax," she continued as her fingers slowly undid the button on his jeans.

"I think it might be worth a try," he said with a sly smile as he slid his hands along her naked waist. After a few minutes, he forgot all about Merle Dixon. As it turned out, Michonne's remedy worked like a charm.