Merle scowled as he looked at the pain buckets in his hands. He should be madder than fire at his brother and Carol's little sneaky ass but here he was. At least this time they couldn't cover his ass in pink paint then take pictures. Fuck that. He was going to get those pictures and delete them before she could do anything with them. He had a reputation to uphold. Hell all the Dixons did it just looked like Daryl was the only breaking the mold here lately.

Pulling up at the house Merle huffed out a breath seeing Stacey standing there grinning at him. He could have done this all himself but she wouldn't shut the fuck up once she caught wind of it. Persistent bitch. Swinging his door open she bounced over, the woman actually bounced, and started rummaging through the bags.

"If you'll wait a fucking minute it'll all be inside." Merle snapped.

Stacey turned her head and raised a brow, "Well if you lose the attitude I might still considering my earlier thoughts."

Merle shook his head, "Ain't here for that shit."

Stacey laughed, "You still don't trust me because you think I'm going to do like Carol has done for Daryl?"

Merle grabbed the stuff up and stormed away. He didn't think Carol done anything bad for her his brother and that is exactly what this woman didn't understand. If anything she's saved his life. Daryl would have re-enlisted until they wouldn't take him. He knew his brother and if it meant seeing him getting tied down then by damn he was okay with it. He just didn't expect kids to get shit out so quick.

inside Merle scowled at the bright pink assaulting his eyes. Shaking his head he set everything down and pushed the windows open so everything would air out. Stacey walked in shortly after setting water bottles down and a small fan.

"No time like the present." Stacey muttered pouring paint.

They got to work her masking things off while he started painting. She was almost done when he'd gotten here and that saved him time. They worked in silence the only thing to be heard was her humming and his silence. It didn't last long before he could hear her huffing and muttering to herself.

"Merle why are we here doing this when they aren't even home? Where are they? I was hoping to see Carol since I drove all this way." Stacey pouted.

Standing back from his wall he studied it and smiled seeing that nothing had been missed in his work. "Didn't tell your ass to drive up here you done that yourself."

"Stop being an ass and tell me if she's okay."

Merle raised a brow, "You think I'd be here painting this fucking room this color if her ass wasn't?" The annoyance in his voice washed over her and she nodded.

"He had to be at the base first thing in the morning. Carol went with him."

"So they left a day early?"

Merle grinned at her, "Yes."

Stacey pouted her paint strokes slowing and paint dripped to the plastic. "But if he was needed then what is she going to do. It's a military base not a spa."

Merle guffawed, "No it's most certainly not a spa. She'll be fine believe me."

Stacey was quiet for a while but he gave her five minutes tops before she started talking again. Goddamn she was a talker. The only way he'd got her to be quiet over the summer was when he was fucking her senseless. Merle's eyes scanned around the room and he scowled at all the paint and wet surfaces. It wouldn't do no good to put a full body impression of her on the fresh paint. He couldn't readily explain that without Carol slapping him or his fucking traitor dad.

"How's Daryl?"

Merle worked his jaw. That was the question wasn't it? How the fuck was his brother? Carol might not see it but there was a blood thirsty gleam to his brothers eyes and it'd be there till the day Ed was handled. Everytime Carol flinched from a loud sound, Daryl not around and panic in her eyes, or any other number of things that could have went wrong or brought up it's there in his eyes. When he'd last seen it Daryl had excused himself and disappeared out on the back porch before anyone could ask him anything. Norman had followed not willing to let him dwell, he never would before and he knew the man would be damned if he'd allow it now. He had a way of commanding Daryl's presence and keeping him in the now.

Daryl though wouldn't be better till he knew that Carol was safe. Hell it'd been her that Ed started all this over. Timing was terrible really. There was only a few things Merle was well and truly thankful for though. He was thankful his cousin was locked up when Daryl'd been shot and he was thankful it didn't kill him. Will and Norman had enough on their hands to deal with when Merle himself found out they didn't need two hotheads ready to tear this world apart. Now with Daryl on his feet they had that anyways but Carol kept him in check. The thought made him grin and he rolled his shoulders.

"Ain't nothing kills a Dixon but a Dixon Sugar Tits."

Stacey grinned and nodded, "Heard that before."

Merle looked over and raised a brow at her to go on. He didn't remember ever saying that to her and he knew Daryl never spent a good amount of time talking to her. She made Daryl uncomfortable because she didn't care what she said. Most of tended to be sexual and being that Daryl was who was fucking Carol he escaped quick.

"I heard Will say that when Dean said you were being chased by your Turquoise Thunder."

"Oh fuck him!" Merle snarled, "Fuck him to hell."

Stacey busted out laughing and Merle shook his head walking out of the room. He left her humming as she started on the other wall. Walking down the hall Merle turned his head and yawned but felt his stomach growl.

"You hungry too! I heard that Dixon?"

Merle chuckled and shook his head but she trailed him suddenly ignoring the rest of the paint. Walking into the bathroom he ignored her as he pissed. Loud clatters could be heard and he grimaced knowing Carol was going to blame him for any mess. How the fuck Daryl lived with someone who hated messes he didn't know. It was the Dixon way and shit just happened. Though the house always seemed spotless when he was here so fuck if he knew how she managed it.

Walking out Stacey was standing at the mouth of the hall, "I'm going to get some takeout. There isn't anything here that will cook quick enough for me to consider cooking."

Merle chuckled and pulled his wallet out, "Wherever you're going just get me whatever from there."

Tossing her the bills, "You're paying for mine since I'm picking it up." She trotted to the door, "Look at you being a gentleman."

Merle ignored her and walked into the room. They'd made good time and he had one wall really left. Honestly there was no point in going and getting food since they'd be leaving soon.

"Merle I need your keys."

Merle scowled but tossed them over his shoulder. He wasn't even going to ask.

Getting the paint ready he huffed hearing the door open again. She wasn't going to leave him the fuck alone, goddamn. Ignoring the sounds of her walking around Merle stood up but stiffened. Turning his head to the side Merle listened but he didn't hear her anymore. He didn't hear that door open or close again so what the fuck was she doing.

Turning Merle set his things down quietly and stepped out into the hall listening. A noise from the living room had him turning his head that way but not stepping into the light that was shining from the kitchen. Sneering Merle's eyes went to the front door it was standing open.

A loud huff and then a scrape had Merle's hackles raising. Standing back in the shadows he watched a figure walk by and then his heart thundered so hard he thought he was having a heart attack. He couldn't have gotten this fucking lucky. There was no way.

Stepping out Merle stepped in behind the man and brought his arm around cutting off his air as he forced his knees to buckle. Hitting hard Merle tightened his hold as he struggled to break free. Merle's anger that he'd kept a tight hold on was breaking free once he realized that Carol was originally supposed to be here by herself. She'd changed her mind last second and decided to go with his brother. Snarling when the man stopped fighting he stepped back letting him fall hard to the ground and his head slam into the darkwood of the floor.

Staring down into the unconscious face of Ed Merle smiled a smile that made the room chill. Stepping beside his head as it lolled over Merle kicked out hard and heard a satisfying crunch under his boot. He needed to get this motherfucker up before Stacey got here. He needed his family right now.

Pulling his phone out he dialed the number and heard a groggy voice, "He still locked up?"