ShutxThexFrontxDoor: Again, I'm sorry I made you cry hun. I understand the feels. I hope this makes up for it though. And thank you for your compliment, it made me grin all day.

Klreyes91: Thanks, doll! And thank you for letting me bounce ideas off you. I've got a lot laid out now for what's to come.

For the next couple of weeks, Lucy just moped around. She didn't talk unless she was asked a question, or it was necessary. Her sadness bled over into her work, and she hated going to Bare Assets more than ever, despite Chanel's attempts to comfort her and get her mind off what had happened. Lucy also visited her mom's grave as much as she could; bringing flowers or some sort of trinket that reminded her of Dharma each time. Her drug use also increased during this period.

As Lucy made her way upstairs to go to bed, Merle sighed. He was tired of her acting like that. He was trying to do what a boyfriend was supposed to, but he didn't know how, and she wasn't letting anyone in anyways. Though on occasion, he would wake up in the middle of the night, and hear her crying in her sleep. He'd frown and put his hand on her back, rubbing it, soothing her. Once she'd calm down he'd fall back to sleep.

"We should do something for her," Daryl finally said.

"Huh?" Merle asked, arching his eyebrows and turning his attention away from the TV.

"We should do something to try to get her mind off of everything. Maybe take her somewhere for the weekend."

"Like where?"

Daryl shrugged, and thought for a few minutes. When he did speak, he said, "There's that cabin we went to as kids. The one grandpa owned."

Merle thought about it. They had only ever been once. Their mom's dad owned it, and the only reason they had even went was because he had insisted that their parents take the boys out there for the summer. It was so long ago, he wasn't sure he even remembered how to get there. "You know where it is?"

Daryl nodded, "I was goin' through some things the other day and I found a map mama had marked a route in it."

"What were you doin' messin' around in the attic?"

"I was lookin' for somethin'. Don't worry about it."

Merle frowned and looked at the TV again.

After a few minutes, Daryl asked, "So are we gonna take her, or what?"

Merle nodded, "We'll take her."

Lucy stood on the dock; Merle was in the water in front of her, "C'mon! Just jump in!"

She shook her head.

"Why not?"

"It's cold."

"It's not that cold, c'mon." He splashed her and she took a step back. Laughing, he kept splashing her.

"You're such a jerk!" she shouted. He splashed her again and she jumped in. He swam away from her, and they had a splash war, him laughing the whole time. When they finally stopped, Lucy treaded water, her arms wrapped around herself. She was shivering. "It's so damn cold, I'm freezin' my ass off."

Merle swam over to her and wrapped his arms around her. She felt his hands on her butt, and he squeezed it, "Feels like it's all there to me." Her back arched, causing her to press against him. He grinned, "Gettin' frisky in the water, huh?"

She gave him a shove, frowning, "You pig."

He laughed and put his lips against hers. Her hands rested on his shoulders and her legs wrapped around his waist.

She pulled away, "I'm getting hungry. You think Daryl will be back tonight?"

As soon as they'd arrived and gotten unpacked, Daryl had gone hunting. Merle shook his head as they got out of the water, "He'll probably be back in the mornin'."

Lucy changed out of her swimsuit, hanging it on the shower rod in the bathroom to dry. She put on her pajamas and walked into the kitchen. Merle had already changed and was outside lighting the grill. He walked back in, and smiled. "What are we havin' for dinner?"

"I'm gonna grill hot dogs, sugarplum, if you'll make some fries."

She nodded and got out the pot they had brought with them. It had been years since anyone had been in the cabin. Everything had been covered in dust when they arrived. A good part of Lucy's day had been spent cleaning. She didn't even get to the stuff in the kitchen, all she did was wipe down the counters, table, stove, and sink. She was afraid of what she might find in the cabinets.

While she fried the fries in oil, she watched Merle out the window. He caught her staring at him and smiled. She rolled her eyes and shook her head when he started making gestures at her. He stuck his tongue out, licking his lips, and she couldn't help but laugh.

She began putting the fries in a napkin lined bowl, and covered it before walking outside, "How much longer 'til you're done?" she asked.

"I'm done now," he told her, using tongs to pick up one of the hot dogs and place it on a plate. She went back inside to get out the buns, ketchup, and mustard and a couple of plates for them to eat off of.

After dinner, Lucy washed the few dishes they had, and laid them on a towel on the counter to dry. She walked into the living room and smiled, seeing Merle building a fire in the fireplace. She laid down on the couch, with its big pillows, it was quite comfortable.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"What's it look like?"

She rolled her eyes, "Why are you building a fire?"

"Because it's gettin' chilly in here." That time of year, it was warm in the day, but still cool at night. Lucy smiled and watched him stand up, a warm fire blazing behind him. "Now what are you doin'?" he asked as he walked over to her.

"Layin' here," she told him with a lazy smile. He smiled back as he climbed on top of her, "The couch isn't big enough for both of us," she whined, "Go away."

He arched an eyebrow at her, "Go away? Really? You want me to go away?" She nodded, still smiling.

"What if I do this instead?" he kissed her neck, gently biting her. She closed her eyes, her arms wrapping around him. His hand slipped under her shirt as he kissed along her jawline, then her lips. He grabbed her breast, and soft moan escaped her as he bit her lip, gently tugging it.

"This is good," she finally managed, kissing him back. He moved so that he was standing, his knee between her and the back of the couch, and she yanked at the hem of his shirt. He pulled it off, and she grinned, her hands trailing over the muscles in his stomach. He moved his leg, getting off the couch so he could take her pants off her, his fingers curling around the fabric of her panties as well. He settled back between her legs and she smiled up at him. He kissed her thigh, his hand slowly moving down it, and she moaned when she felt his fingers against the sensitive flesh between her legs. He rubbed her clit before slowly slipping two fingers inside her.

Lucy moaned again, tensing as his fingers moved rhythmically. She was certain he'd had more one night stands then the one she caught, but they hadn't had sex together since a few days after New Year's. He grabbed the hem of her shirt and tugged it up; she arched her back and lifted her shoulders so he could get it off of her. He trailed kisses up her stomach to her breasts. Merle took her breast in his mouth, teasing the nipple with his tongue and lightly grazing his teeth across her skin.

"Merle," she whispered, her eyes closed.

"What do you want, sugarplum?" he asked, voice low, his breath tickling her skin. She couldn't even begin to form a sentence as his fingers increased their speed. He smiled, a low chuckle escaping him.

She groaned as he stopped, his fingers sliding out of her. He stood up again to take his pants off, and then settled back on top of her again. His fingers worked her nipples, teasing them while he kissed her neck and collarbone, nipping the skin. She moaned as she felt his erection against her, teasing her more. "You want it sugarplum?" Lucy nodded in response, and her back arched, muscles tensing as he slid into her.

His thrusts were slow at first, but as her hands roamed his back he increased the speed of his thrusts, going deeper with each one, grinding his hips into her. Her hands clutched his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as the thrusts grew harder. Merle smiled, watching her move beneath him, bringing her hips up to meet each thrust. Her leg wrapped around his as her muscles began to tense, her walls tightening around him as she found her orgasm. He found his release too and they rode it out together.

Merle kissed Lucy again as they settled on the couch in each other's arms. They laid there in silence for a few minutes, then Lucy finally said, "I think I'm going to go to bed."

He nodded and climbed off the couch. He took her hand and pulled her to her feet. She walked to the bedroom, and crawled under the blankets while he put out the fire in the other room. It wasn't long before she felt him climb into bed next to her. His arm wrapped around her waist, and he pulled her against him. Lucy smiled and closed her eyes, the feeling of his heartbeat against her back putting her to sleep.