A/N Thanks so much to all. We left off with Merle heading to the bar and Beth receiving a phone call. We'll pick it up right there :)

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How could her stomach have knots and some weird butterflies at the same time? And she felt happy but she was so nervous, and there was also a hint of dread. She was so completely confused, she needed to talk to Merle. She decided to just go to his house and wait for him.

She hadn't planned to go to Merle's when she got off, she planned to go home to the farm. He'd told her he might have to work late and he'd text her when he was home. But everything had changed, she had huge news to share with him.

She hurried back in the grocery and bought what she'd need to make a pot of chicken and noodles for their dinner. It would be ready and waiting whatever time he got home.

She got to his place and got the chicken started then quickly went in the bathroom and showered. She dressed in a casual knit shift and put her hair in a haphazard ponytail, before going back to the kitchen to finish the dinner prep.


It was just before five when he pulled in the lot of Seekers. It had been months since he'd been there. Once he and Beth got together he couldn't see a reason to even bother. If he was going to relax and have a couple of beers he'd just as soon have them at home on the couch, with his arm around her when he did. It had taken him a few months to realize it but then he came to know, the reason he used to spend time in bars was because he was lonely. With Beth he'd found what he'd always needed, a reason to stay home.

This night was different, he was determined to get drunk and forget everything. Even her. He was so far down, and it was all him he was down on. He wanted far more for her than for her to be stuck with a guy headed nowhere. He wanted so much to do so much for her, and he just couldn't. And look at him now, pfft, where did he turn with all those feelings? A bar. Further convincing himself he didn't deserve Beth Greene.

He walked in, slid up on a stool and looked down the bar to see what other fools were there. Shit, it was like he'd just been there the day before, the bar was lined with those same old losers. Guys like him. The same old barman walked over, "Hey there Dixon, it's been a while since I've seen your ornery ass. I thought maybe ya crawled up on the wagon."

Merle laughed like it was funny and said, "Well I ain't done that quite yet, so how bout a Pabst?"

He took a long pull and it was good, it was cold, he opened his throat and poured the rest down. "Hey man, one more."

Fuck, he missed her. He realized just what he needed and it wasn't the beer. He needed to hold her, that's when he'd feel okay. That's when things in his world would be right. The beer could dull the pain, but being with her could fix the pain. He took the phone out of his shirt pocket and texted her, "Hey Honey."

He stared at the screen until it lit up and he did feel better when he saw the words, "Hi! I'm at your house making dinner. I missed you too much to say away."

"Be there soon."

She'd been so excited when she received his text, he was on his way home. Their dinner was ready and it wasn't late at all, just six. They'd have plenty of time to talk later. She'd been so nervous but she knew once she saw him it would be alright. They'd talk about everything and decide what was best for both of them, and together they'd figure out how to make it happen.

She heard the truck pull in the drive, wiped her hands on the kitchen towel and hurried to the living room to welcome him home. One look and she knew something was off. She had no idea what, but something. What happened next left her no doubt she was right.

He always acted happy to see her and he was always very affectionate, but this was different. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, not until what happened next. He hurried to her like he hadn't seen her in a year. His arms wrapped around her middle and then his strong hands slid up her back and pulled her body close to his. His face was in her neck and he whispered, "I need ya so much Beth. But I need ta know I can make ya happy."

She was confused but that didn't alter the fact she loved the man and what she told him was the truth. Her lips were close to his ear and she whispered back, "You always make me happy Merle, you must know that by now. I love you and I need you too." She could smell the beer on him but he wasn't drunk, that wasn't it. But the fact he'd obviously had a couple was one of the things that told her tonight wasn't the night to talk to him about her news.

They pulled apart just a little and she asked him, "Are you hungry? I made some chicken and noodles."

He didn't really care if he ate or not but she'd taken the time to cook for him, and more than anything he wanted to just sit and look at her a while. "Yeah Honey, that sounds great. I know I told ya a million times, ya shouldn't always be doin' for me."

"And I've told you a million times Merle, I wouldn't do it if I didn't want to." Yeah, he told himself. Coming home was what he'd needed to do all along.

They sat at the small dining room table and it was still so apparent to her, something was different with him. It seemed he couldn't stop looking at her, and he kept reaching across the table to her and squeezing her hand. She had no complaints about his show of affection, it was just that something continued to feel off.

"Did you have a good day at work?" It was small talk but maybe he'd open up.

She saw it again in the hesitation before he answered, "Yeah Honey, everything was just fine, just the usual. How bout you?"

She acted like she hadn't noticed, maybe he just wasn't ready to talk. "I did. I had a specialty cake to do for that new steakhouse in town. I guess the official grand opening is Sunday but they were having some private event tonight. Anyway, it was so much fun and they were so complimentary when they picked it up this afternoon."

He felt that twinge, she was so good, he was such a loser, but he smiled, "That's wonderful Honey. I bet they'll be wantin' ta order a lot more from ya. I'm sure it looked great, but when they taste it they're gonna know they got themselves sumthin' real special."

That was it. The look in his eyes, the slight hunch of his shoulders, the tone in his voice. It all told her things weren't right. She did something that wasn't like her at all. She rose from her chair and moved to him, seating herself in his lap.

He looked a little confused but he smiled as he gazed in her eyes. She ran her fingers through his hair gently twisting his curls around them. Her eyes were focused on his and she spoke softly, "I know something isn't right and I hope that sometime soon you'll feel you can share what that is with me. For now I want you to know I love you. I think I fell for you the first time I saw you and I'm never going away."

With her words his lips were on hers. It seemed like everything in his life had gone to shit, everything but her. She was that one bright spot and he needed her in every way a man needs a woman.

One thing he knew he did have going for him was a strong back. That knowledge coupled with his powerful need to be close to her, and he slid one muscled arm under her legs while he wrapped the other around her tightly, just under her arm. In one swift and seemingly effortless motion he stood with Beth cradled in his arms. She didn't speak, she just kept looking in his eyes and running her fingers through his curls.

"I need a nice warm shower Honey, how bout you?"

She didn't bother telling him she'd had hers when she got there, it didn't matter. This was with Merle. Once in the bathroom he carefully set her down on the soft white rug, and as they stood facing each other his hands moved to caress her face. His lips were on hers and his kiss was full of that passion she was sure no man but Merle possessed. But it was something more than just passion.

She felt it, she felt his need for something far beyond the physical. Whatever it was she'd do her best to satisfy his hunger.

He had that way of getting her naked before she had time to think about what was going on. This night was no different, he discarded her clothes and then his own in a pile on the bathroom floor. Without taking his eyes from hers he reached his hand in the shower and turned the handles. One of his big strong hands gently cradled the back of her head while his mouth was on her mouth. His other arm extended with his hand under the running water, waiting for the temperature to be just right. When he deemed it was he moved his hand from her hair down to cup her bottom and he guided her into the shower.

There was something so sensuous about having him wash her hair. He was so gentle, at least until he grabbed a handful of that blond hair and pulled her backward into his chest. It wasn't painful, it was just incredibly sexy when he held her in his arms and nuzzled his face into her neck. Almost as sexy as when they soaped each other up.

When they'd rinsed he reached over her and turned the water off, then grabbing a towel he dried her and then himself. She wrapped her arms around his neck and his hands grasped the backs of her thighs as he lifted her and her legs went around his waist.

She took the initiative now, leaning her body into his and kissing him deeply. He held the kiss as he carried her to his bed, then moved one arm firmly around her waist and bent just enough to pull the covers down with the other. He gently lay her on the cool sheets and for a moment just stood above her looking at her with what seemed a mix of love and some sort of vague concern. He knelt beside the bed and began to slowly and softly let his open palm skim along her body.

In a hoarse whisper he told her, "You're so beautiful Honey, you're so special. Way too beautiful and way too special ta be spendin' your love on a guy like me."

"Don't say that Merle, don't ever say that. It's not true. You're everything I want, you're all I'll ever want."

He knew she believed that and he wished he could. But for now it sounded so perfect, it sounded right and it was all he wanted and all he needed to hear. His hand wrapped gently around the back of her neck as he pulled her closer and kissed her with a warm mix of tenderness and desire. Soon his hand was again slipping down her body until it stopped to gently caress her breast. He played with it, tweaking the nipple and enjoying her reaction to his touch.

Beth surprised him every time they made love. She didn't give an outward appearance of it but she was such a sexual being. She was always so warm, willing and responsive. He almost started to overthink it again. He almost started telling himself for what must be the millionth time, he didn't deserve this with her. But he caught himself and in true Merle fashion told himself, fuck that shit. I want this too much to question it.

With that thought his mouth moved to her breast while his hand moved to caress and play with her soft little mound. She was moaning now, her fingers in his hair and softly calling his name, "Merle, oh Merle. It feels so good."

He couldn't help it, even with her small breast in his mouth he felt himself smiling, and as his finger slipped inside that warm wet center she again cried out softly, "Oh Merle."

He lifted his head to look at her and smiled when he said, "Honey ya know I love ya, I gotta have ya." And with those words he stood and slipped into the bed.

He was propped on his knees between her legs, his hands clasping the insides of her thighs as he pulled them further apart and told her, "I gotta taste that sweetness right there." She gasped with pleasure as his mouth and tongue began to work their magic on that oh so aroused, and oh so sensitive little bundle of nerves.

Her fingers tugged harder at his curls as she called out, louder now, more feverish now, "Oh my gawd Merle, oh my gawd. You, you, oh you make me feel so good…"

He slipped a finger in her and began pumping and teasing her more, then lifted his face just enough to say, "Come for me Honey, come for me. Let me know what ya like, let me feel it. Come for me." His mouth was back on her and his tongue back in her and within seconds she began to feel her body tense, and then release that tension and what felt like a kind of warm delicious shock wave shot right through her. She'd done as he asked, come for him with a pleasure she could never imagine feeling with anyone else. She'd added to his pleasure when in a ragged and nearly breathless voice she called out, "Oh my gawd Merle, oh my gawd."

He was back up on his knees and grabbing the packet from the bedside table. He thought of having her slip the condom on him but that might take too long and he couldn't wait. He needed her now. He did what had to be done and then with two strong hands he grabbed her bottom, forcing her close to his engorged manhood. "Ready Honey, ready for your man?"

"Yes, yes please Merle, please. I'm so ready." On that he slipped inside her loving the sound of her squeal as he did.

He had her arms pinned above her head, one hand wrapped tightly around he wrists, while he was almost in a kneeling position as he thrust into her. Using his mouth to tease her nipple. She feigned a struggle, "Merle let me loose, let me touch you."

"Nah, this is all about me touchin' you." He teased her more, stopping his strokes while continuing to tease her nipple. She was squirming now, "Please Merle, please." He looked at her so seriously, "Please Merle what?" "Please, please you know what I need, I need you Merle."

"Goddamn Honey, goddamn, ya got me all wound up now." And he was pumping hard as her legs wrapped around him pulling him even deeper into her. "Merle I'm going to come again, oh Merle, it feels so good." When she started going over that edge he went over it with her.

They lay so close, their limp bodies damp with sweat and both of them breathing heavily. He felt it and he told her, "I don't know how I can love someone so much. I never woulda thought I had it in me."

"I'm so happy that you do Merle because I know I could never love any other man." He kissed her, it was the tender kiss of a well-satisfied lover. "Let me get ya a cloth." He cleaned up, cleaned her up, and then slipped in the bed and held her close.

He woke early, wanting to get her coffee and a bite to eat before she went to work. It was while he was making her toast the idea came to him. He posed his question when she wandered in the kitchen. She was always so cute in the morning. Sleepy-eyed and wearing just a thin little robe she kept there. "Honey would ya come away with me this weekend? Let's get outta town for a couple of days."

She smiled, "Where Merle? Where is it you want to go?"

"I don't know, I'll think a sumthin'. I just know I want ta go somewhere we don't know no one. Somewhere just the two of us. Would ya? Can we?"

"Sure. I'll hurry home to the farm after work and pack a little bag. What are you thinking, just casual?"

"Yeah, yeah perfect. Ya just bring what's comfortable."

He arrived at the farm early, 5:30, but she was ready. It was always so damn awkward when her Daddy answered the door. It felt like the old man was always giving him that look, the look that said, "You stole my most prized procession you son of a bitch." And Merle knew that's just what he'd done.

He helped her in the truck before sliding in on his side. As he made to put the pickup in gear she questioned, "So where is it Merle? Where are you taking me?"

"Nuthin' but the best for you Honey, I'm takin' ya ta Rome for the weekend!"

They both laughed out loud, knowing the Rome he spoke of was Rome, Georgia. She teased him back, "It sounds lovely Merle, what made you choose Rome over Paris or London?"

"Well I didn't wanna go far." He winked at her, then turned a little serious, "I wanted someplace where I don't know no one. All I want is ta go somewhere alone with ya an have ya in bed with me all weekend long."

"Alright, that sounds kind of perfect to me too."

He'd thought about a bed and breakfast but then he thought that might be just a bit too cozy. He was hoping to have her loudly calling his name this weekend and he didn't want anyone calling 9-1-1. He opted for a hotel he hoped had thick walls, and he'd keep the radio turned up.

Neither of them had a complaint about the time they spent in Rome. It seemed a little decadent, mostly just laying around in bed with each other, having a drink and making love. But they did get out some. They dined, they took walks and they even visited the Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum Saturday afternoon.

It happened Saturday night. He did have the radio turned up and they'd each had a Jameson and ginger. She was feeling the alcohol and he was feeling her. She was a little scared at first when, as he stood at the end of the bed he took her ankles and in a quick move had her turned on her tummy. He pulled her hard into him and she yelped, "Merle what are you doing?"

"I ain't gonna hurt ya Honey. Just relax n trust me." She did and although it was startling at first, when he entered her from behind that way, with his hands grasped tightly on her hips and pulling her into him while he pushed hard into her, it did feel so different and it felt so good and when she came she did scream, "Merle! Merle!" That was all it took for him to join her in his own quaking climax.

That wasn't the only thing that made it a good weekend for Merle. It was that he'd started to finally, just a little, believe it could be okay. They'd talked and she'd told him, like she had so many times, but this time he listened more closely when she did. She said how all she'd ever wanted was a simple quiet life. A life spent with someone she loved and who loved her back. She told him she'd like to live in a house like his house, but with a couple of kids and maybe a pup in the yard.

Those were things Merle had never thought he wanted, not before Beth. But now all of that sounded perfect to him too. Maybe they really could make this work. Maybe they could have that life together.

She sat close to him on the way back home. She kept her hand on his thigh, rubbing it softly now and then. When they were close she asked, "Can I just go home with you?'

"Ya know ya can, anytime ya want."

She hadn't told him her news yet. Over the weekend the time had never seemed quite right. Tonight would be the night. They had a light dinner and after the dishes were done they sat in the living room. He had the stereo on low, playing the classic country music he loved, and she began her story.

"I heard from Maggie and Glenn Thursday afternoon and I haven't even told you anything about it. It was such a surprise and we've been so busy just enjoying each other, well I guess I didn't get around to it."

"What is it Honey? Is everything okay?"

"Oh yes it's wonderful news for them Merle. Remember when Glenn went to California to talk to that big software company about his app?"

"Yeah sure. I been wonderin' when he'd finally hear."

"Well I guess he heard, at least tentatively, a while back. They didn't want to say anything until all the contracts were done and signed and all because, I guess he was worried something could go wrong at the last minute."

"Anyway, you won't believe how much they're paying him." She was right about that. When she told him he was dumbfounded.

"Holy shit, ya kiddin' me?"

"No I guess they think it's going to really take off and it's not just that. A part of it is that he signed this contract that he would continue to develop follow up apps, like second and third generation stuff. They also want him to work with a team that's developing other apps and even software. It's a pretty juicy deal, isn't it?"

"Yeah damn. Good for him. Now will this mean they gotta move ta California?"

"No, he 's going to just work from a home office, of course they're going to buy a new home. I suppose it'll be a big fancy one."

"Well that's real, real nice for them. Damn, I guess I had no idea what that shit paid. I never gave it a thought."

"There's more Merle."

"More? Like what?"

"I'm kind of embarrassed to tell you because it's just so much, but they offered me something, something big."

"What Beth? C'mon Honey you're killin' me here."

"Well it's just that they both know, they've known forever, that I'd like to go to culinary school. They've offered to send me to the best, it's one up in New York City." She was smiling but it was a nervous smile.

He felt the knife go right through his heart and he hoped she couldn't see his pain. He was trying so hard to be upbeat. "Well that's just wonderful Honey. Just what ya always wanted. Cookin an bakin' school, right?"

"Well I used to think that but now, no. I'm not going Merle. I don't want to anymore."

"Why Honey? Why would ya say that when ya love that stuff so much? It's a great chance for ya. Seems too good ta turn down, ya gotta go."

"No, I don't want to go so far away Merle. I'd be gone a whole year. I couldn't stand to be gone from you that long." Her words sounded so good, he could have just nodded and agreed with her. But what kind of asshole would he be? No. No. He'd never be able to live with himself.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and held her close to his heart, "We'll work it out. You'll come see me and I'll come see you. Time will fly by, you'll see."

He'd never realized how stubborn his sweet girl could be, but she showed him, '"No. I'm not going to go. It's a very kind and generous offer but I'm not going."

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A/N Damn, will she stay or will she go? Thanks so much for reading along. I'd appreciate if you'd leave a comment / review. There's a chapter photo on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please have a look. I hope to see you all back here next Thursday for more of The Sacrifice. Until than I thank you again and remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee