AN: OMG I JUST REALIZED I MADE A HUGE MISTAKE LAST CHAPTER! I will eventually go back in and fix it. But I made it so that this chapter was when the met with the Governor (The Arrow on the Doorpost) and I forgot all about Clear! I got a little ahead of myself! I'm gonna set this chapter at the end of the episode where Andrea came to the prison. Please forgive me for my mess up! It happens! Sorry guys!
Mrskad453- I'm glad you thought so. I wanted to have Merle do something different, rather than be a jerk. I completely agree about Andrea. I was happy she died. She's one of the few characters that I didn't even tear up about. He is, I love Gavin lol. I have a plan for when Marie goes with Rick and Daryl. Plus, I killed off Hershel so somebody has to go. Thank you!
Violet Lylybelle- Lol, I wanted there to be a sweet side to Merle for once. I love writing all of the stuff with Gavin, he's just so adorable.
HarleyMasiff82- Thank you! I agree with you, and I'm glad that I'm not the only one that thinks so. Merle sees that, even if he himself doesn't understand it, Daryl and Marie have something special and they love each other.
Ragelovejimmy- Thank you! I got that idea from the song Beth sings at the end of that episode actually. I'm glad, I was worried. I'm not sure what the baby will be yet.
Tori D- Hmmm. I'll add them to the names to consider. Thank you!
Daryl and Marie made their way down to where everyone was gathered out side of the cells. "Hey," Rick greeted. "Where've you two been?"
"Aren't you the nosy one?" Marie asked her brother. "I mean really, Rick. Sometimes you wouldn't want to know the answer to that question," she looked at him innocently.
"I ask, 'cause your son's been looking for you, both of you." Marie searched the room for the little boy. She saw Sophia, sitting and talking to Carl, and her eyes finally landed on him sitting next to none other than Merle.
"Sure looks like it," she mumbled. She didn't like the idea of Gavin talking the Merle. She still didn't trust the man.
"He's trying…don't freak out on 'im," Daryl suggested lowly as they walked. "If it weren't for 'im, ya won't have that ring. He helped me with it earlier…"
"I'll keep that in mind," she wasn't unreasonable. But she was very protective of her son. And she swore if Merle was being mean to her kid, he'd get his ass kicked.
"S'all I ask."
"Everything okay, over here?" Marie asked causally. She wasn't going to be a jerk to Merle for no reason.
"We're good Momma. Merle taught me how to do a turkey call!" Gavin made the 'gobble' type sound that turkeys make.
"That's very good," the mother smiled happily at her son. "What do you say to Merle for teaching you that?"
"Thank you," the brown eyed boy smiled. "Momma, what's dis on yer finger?" he picked up her left hand.
"It's a ring, Daryl made it for me."
"You made that!?" Gavin exclaimed. "That is so cool! Can you teach me?"
"I don' know how they'd feel 'bout us usin' up all a the spoons," Daryl replied.
Gavin nodded understandingly. "Is dis like a wedding ring?"
"Ya, I hope that's okay with ya," the blue eyed man replied.
"Do ya love my momma?"
"'Course I do. What kinda question's that?"
"Den s'okay."
"I guess some congratulations are in order?" Merle said. "Although, little brother, it ain't too late to change yer mind." Marie was seriously wondering what had happened to Merle. Had he eaten some spoiled food? Poisoned water? If not that, then when did Merle become playful…and nice? Something was going on here…
"Ain't gonna change my mind," Daryl replied.
"Well ya can still change yer mind 'bout my baby brother, an' spend some time with a real man."
"If Daryl's not a real man than I don't know what is," Marie replied. She turned her attention back to her son. "Have you eaten yet?" she asked. He shook his head. "C'mon, let's get you some food then, huh?"
"Okay, Momma."
"Feisty one, ain't she?" Merle commented.
"She knows what she wants," Daryl shrugged.
The next morning, Rick gathered everyone in the main area of the prison. "I'm goin' on a run," he announced. "I'll take Carl and Michonne. Daryl and Marie, I want you to hold down the fort here."
"Where are you goin'?" Marie asked.
"King County," he replied. Her heart dropped at the sound of home. Home, that was a funny thought. Her home now was a prison. But at the very least, this home had her family. Although, she longed for a normal day where she could go eat lunch at the café, or stay on her couch and watch the crap that was on television. This new baby wouldn't have any of those memories, it would only know survival. But she would make sure that it knew how to be happy and have fun, it wouldn't have a one track mind to where he/she didn't stop to smell the roses every once and a while. "I can clean out the rest of the guns in the station." As everyone dispersed, Carl grabbed his aunt's wrist.
"Is there anything you want from back home? This doesn't just have to be about the guns."
"Like what?" she didn't have any of her personal belongings there. They were all at the farm still…where they'd sat for the past few months. She wondered if she could ever get that stuff back.
"Something for the baby, maybe?"
"A stuffed animal," she decided. She remembered her own prized possession Mr. Cuddles.
"I'll bring something back," he promised.
"You be careful out there okay," she didn't like the idea of her nephew going out there with walkers. She knew Carl could handle himself, but it was still scary.
"I will," he replied, they embraced quickly, and Marie slipped him her extra clip of ammo, just in case.
"I love you Carl."
"Love you too, Aunt Marie."
Marie hugged her brother and stood back with Daryl, Gavin, and Sophia as the trio drove off down the long gravel drive of the prison. Glenn closed the gate behind them and they were gone. Marie hoped they'd return soon, she couldn't lose her brother or her nephew.
AN: So sorry it was short! I only had like 40 minutes to write it if I wanted to get it posted today. I probably won't update again until at least Saturday! Thanks for reading! I love y'all's reviews! I was actually really nervous about last chapter and y'all made it better! Thanks again!