A/N Thank you all! Well it just seems to be one big moment after the next with these two, and hang on tight - this chapter is jam packed! Enjoy!

TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual Assault

00

He's never felt more conflicted. What the hell's the matter with him? All he's doing is leaving for work on Monday morning, just like damn near every other man in the country.

The trouble is he's leaving her and Tommy here alone. Something about that just doesn't feel right.

Seriously dummy? It's what men do. They kiss their women and children goodbye in the morning and they go off to make a living. Besides, Beth's a grown woman. She's used to working, used to taking care of a child on her own, used to driving to the store and used to taking care of what needs taking care of. She's capable of staying home without him for hell sake.

Why is he so fucking nervous?

It's that damn story she told him about the bartender. It still has his gut in a knot and his muscles tense. If anything were to happen to her or Tommy, he…what exactly would he do? Kill the guy?

He's not sure.

What the fuck's the matter with guys like that anyway? He doesn't have the answer but he knows they're everywhere, and he damn sure doesn't want them near her.

He and Beth talked about a few things yesterday and they agreed on how to handle a couple of situations. When Tommy went down for his nap Beth called the sitter. She kept it cordial, explaining she would no longer be working outside the home and would not need daily babysitting service.

Then Merle went in his office and made the call to Cattle Rustlers, just like he and Beth agreed. His tone was stern, not so friendly. He got her boss on the phone, told the guy she was quitting, and he told him why, "When ya don't keep your people in line ya lose the good help and then you lose the customers."

The fellow knew Merle Dixon was a friend of the Fat Cat and he was suddenly not so happy with the bartender. He was losing at least one customer, probably two, and a sexy waitress.

From there Merle and Beth told each other it was behind them and they were moving on. But Merle knew it would probably never be behind him. He'd try, because she wanted him to. But, yeah…that bartender needed a lesson.

After their calls were complete Merle showed her the office routine. When he was done explaining things she said, "Okay, but gosh, this doesn't seem like a full-time job Merle, not even close. It won't keep me busy for more than an hour or so a day."

He gently lay the palm of his hand on her cheek and said, "You already got two full time jobs. Me and that little fella in there havin' a nap. That's enough Beth."

The simple words held a tone of appreciation and that was something Beth rarely felt, appreciated. She leaned up on her toes and draped her arms across his shoulders, he followed her lead wrapping his strong arms around her waist. She smiled and said, "Oh Merle…" and had to fight the urge to say, "I love You."

She was sure she felt that feeling for him but she was afraid it was too soon. Besides, it was ridiculous. Wasn't it? Yes, it was true that they'd been talking to each other for weeks, but they'd only spent two days together.

Still, it just felt so right. Oh but yes, it was soon, and besides, she hoped he'd say it first. So instead of telling him how she felt she smiled and asked, "Kiss me, please."

He smiled and said, "Darlin', ya ain't gotta ask me twice." The kissing got hot in a hurry and when he slid his hand inside her shirt and softly ran it over her smooth, delicate skin she didn't tell him to stop, instead he heard her satisfied moan.

It was getting serious when she drew back and said, "I…we shouldn't be doing this Merle. It's…well I can't take a chance of…well."

"Yeah, I get it," and he truly did. She'd messed up one time and she wasn't taking any chances of making the same mistake twice. He didn't blame her. She was being smart.

That didn't mean he didn't want to make love to her. He wanted that in the worst of ways. He just had to figure out how to make her believe he wouldn't do her wrong, that he wouldn't hurt her in that way or any other.

It was moments after that when Daryl came by. Merle was relieved to get out of the house for a little while and focus his attention on something else. For now it was her car. Him and his brother towed it back home and in front of Merle's shop. They popped the hood and just as Merle suspected, little brother had Beth's car purring like a kitten in no time.

Daryl went home to work on his own rig, happy with the invitation to come back for dinner later.

By the time Merle went back in the house Tommy was up and playing with his trucks in the front room and Beth was in the kitchen seeing about dinner. Merle got down on the floor and played with the little boy for a few minutes, then picked him up in his arms and said, "C'mon, let's go talk ta Mama."

She smiled when he walked in the room and he complimented her, "Smells good in here." Then he reached in his pocket and pulled out a money clip. He slipped out a a fifty and a couple of twenties and handed them to her, "Now that mosta this snow is melted off and your car is runnin', if there's somethin' you or Tommy need ya go ahead and get it tomorrow. Might wanna go ta the grocery too."

She didn't mind going to the grocery at all but she questioned the amount of money he'd given her, "Merle this is way too much. I can get us a week's worth of groceries for $18.00."

He scoffed, "Yeah well, don't go cheap on what ya buy. I'll eat pretty much whatever ya fix but I like ta eat well, ya know, like I ain't broke anymore. And if little brother comes around here, well ya seen him eat. It's like food evaporates." He smiles as he places his hand on her shoulder, chuckles and adds, "So what I'm saying is don't shop like ya would for you n Tommy. Shop like there's a couple of hungry men around."

He leans in, kisses her lightly on the lips, looks at the little boy and tells him, "Give Mama a kiss now, then we'll get back ta playin' cars."

Walking back to the front room he suddenly starts to feel a little overwhelmed. Shit, he never thought he'd care for being domesticated but he's already found he likes it. Yet he doesn't think for a minute he'd like it much with anyone else. He'd only be living this domestic life with one woman, Beth.

He wonders then, is this what they call love? Nah, it can't be. That's something else. Something more serious. Isn't it? But shit, how much more serious could this feel?

She's a little nervous about him leaving Monday morning, and she's not even sure why. It's not as if she hasn't been living alone, there's just been her and Tommy for a long time. But there's something so comforting about having Merle with her. She sighs wistfully and softly smiles, maybe she just misses him.

She cleans the breakfast dishes up, gets Tommy and herself dressed for the day and she lets the little boy play with paper and some crayons while she does the little bit of filing that needs to be done. The phone rings twice, she answers "Dixon's Custom Construction, how can I help you today?" and writes down the messages.

It's not even nine o'clock. There's lots of time to do a few things before Merle gets home for lunch. She looks at Tommy and asks, "Do you want to go to the grocery store and shop like we're feeding two hungry men?"

The little boy just smiles as she puts Merle's money in her purse, tucked right alongside the rent money he got back for her.

The first stop she and Tommy make is the Five and Dime. She's got a few things in mind to spend some of that rent money on. She and Tommy put the items in their cart in no time, and then it's off to the grocery.

By the time they get home from their errands Tommy is exhausted. Before doing anything else she feeds him a little snack and carries him to his crib. She lays the sleepy boy down, sings him two songs and he's out like a light.

She smiles, him tucked away safely in his crib will make the job of unloading the car a lot easier.

She has to hurry a little; Merle will be home for lunch at 12:30 and she wants to have everything put away and his lunch made when he arrives.

As she carries in the grocery sacks she sets them on the kitchen table, and she's just walking through the backdoor with the last of the bags in her hands when it happens. Someone comes up from behind her and presses their open hand hard against her mouth, while a strong arm wraps so tightly around her waist she can hardly catch a breath.

She's lifted off her feet, the grocery bag slips from her hands and she hears the crashing sounds of glass jars breaking and the thud of cans as they hit the floor. The groceries are the least of her worries. She's kicking and flailing in her desperate efforts to break free, and then she hears his voice and she's even more scared.

She feels his hot breath as Phillip presses his lips on her ear and growls, "I tried to make this fun for us both. I was going to buy you drinks and screw you in a nice, proper way. Now I'm just going to fuck you and it won't be in a nice way at all. When I'm done hurting you that way, I'll give you a good beating for costing me my job, you and your big dumb lover boy."

Then he laughs in the most repulsive way and his words are worse, "Who knows? If you're lucky I might fuck you again when I'm done beating you."

He pushes her hard against the wall, her back still to him, he's got her ponytail in his hand and he's pulling it back so forcefully she thinks he might break her neck, with his other hand he's raised the skirt of her dress and he's grabbing her panties.

She's crying hard and yelling at him, "No! Stop! No! Stop it! Stop it!" Over and over and then she hears the unmistakable sounds of his zipper going down and then his belt buckle hitting the wood floor. His hand is between her thighs as he forces her legs apart, while she cries and begs him to stop.

Then suddenly he's gone.

She hears Merle's voice loudly bellow, "Ya gatdman muther fucker. Now I'ma hafta kill ya." She would have never thought such words would be music to her ears, but they are.

She can barely see through her tears as she frantically pulls her underwear up and tries to straighten her clothing and her hair. The sounds of a man being beaten seem to echo through the room and she hurriedly wipes her eyes to see what in the world is happening.

She can't speak and she can't move. All she can do is watch as Merle relentlessly beats her attacker. It's only then she realizes Daryl's there too because she hears him say, "Hey brother, c'mon. Ain't no use in keepin' it up, he ain't movin' no more." Merle finally quits. He falls back on his heels breathing hard and with bloodied hands and a still angry look on his face. Beth's not sure, but she thinks Phillip may be dead.

The next thing she's aware of is Merle holding her and asking, "Are ya alright Beth? Are ya hurt?"

She lays her head on his chest, grateful and relieved as he pulls her closer, "I'm not hurt, just scared and…oh my gawd Merle it was so awful."

Now her tears began to fall again and as he holds her even closer he tries to assure her, "I'm right here Beth and that bastard ain't ever gonna bother ya again." Then he asks, "Where's Tommy? Where's our boy?"

Even in her distress she doesn't miss that he said "our boy," but maybe it was just a slip of the tongue. "He's safe, he's been napping and thank God, he never woke up."

Then it's Daryl speaking, "I gotta talk ta my little buddy about staying on point."

"Daryl? I…I'm…I didn't even know you were here at first." She realizes, oh my gawd, he must have seen her nakedness. She takes comfort in her thought that Daryl Dixon is not the sort of man who will ever say a word about it.

"Yeah, hey Beth, I'm real sorry about what happened. and I'm damn glad we got here when we did." Then he looks at her and shrugs, "I thought I was comin' ta have lunch with y'all, but I guess I'll be taking the trash out instead."

She nods her head and asks, "Are we going to call the police?"

Merle looks in her eyes and says, "No. Me n little brother will handle this ourselves. You don't worry about nuthin', K?"

"Yes, okay." She's not going to ask questions because she doesn't really want to know any of the answers. Whatever the situation is with Phillip, and whatever Merle and Daryl decide to do with him, it's okay with her.

Merle pulls her close again and whispers in her ear, "Why don't ya go on in the bathroom, relax in a nice warm bath and me n little brother will take care of the mess."

She knows the answer, but still it seems right to ask, "Are you sure you don't want me to help?"

"No Darlin', you don't worry about nuthin' except yourself and Tommy." He has business to take care of but he hates to have to leave her again, "Ya gonna be okay if we're gone a little while? We won't be too long."

"I'll be fine Merle. I don't think anyone else is going to come around to bother me."

Alone in the bathroom she cries again, and she's almost brutal with herself as she desperately scrubs at her skin and hair. She has to be sure there's no trace of that creature left on her. Her mind is racing as she thinks to herself, maybe it's not right, surely it's not Christian, but she can't help it. She's glad Merle did what he did to Phillip. That horrible man will never be able to do to any woman what he tried to do to her.

She hears them busily doing whatever they're doing, and then the house goes quiet and she knows the men are gone. She heard the door shut and the engine start up and the sounds of the pickup driving off. She's just about to wrap herself in a towel when she catches a glimpse of herself in the full-length mirror. Her skin is bright red from the heat of the water and the vigorous scrubbing. That's good, it means he's gone.

She has herself dressed and her hair combed just as Tommy starts to wake. Thank God her sweet little boy slept through it all. Yes, there are things to be grateful for.

She holds him close, carrying him to the kitchen for a drink and snack and expecting to see the mess the groceries made. There is no mess. Everything looks like it did when she left for the store that morning.

She walks to the fridge to get Tommy juice and sees the note taped there, "Don't start supper. Me and Daryl will be bringing something home. Merle"

The note brings more tears and more awareness of the man Merle Dixon is. So soft and tender and thoughtful, but all the niceties in the world can't erase the other things she knows about him. He can be incredibly brutal. She witnessed that in action not long ago, and yet she doesn't think poorly of him. What he did made it clear to her, she's his family and he'll never stand for anyone hurting her. She's not ashamed of being glad about that. Not after what she experienced today.

Tommy pats her cheek, "Mama wha?"

"It's nothing honey, just something in my eye. Let's get you a snack and then we can play with that new truck you got at the dime store." It was just this morning, but it seems like years ago. So much has happened since then.

Later that evening, after Daryl goes home and Tommy's tucked in bed for the night, Merle and Beth finally have the opportunity to sit and talk, just the two of them. At first he tries sticking with the good things, or at least what he thinks she thinks is good. "I see you was at the dime store today, got ya some Christmas stuff, huh?"

He's happy when she smiles, "Yes, just a few little things. I love Christmas, it's my favorite holiday. I haven't been able to celebrate since I've been on my own but now, well Tommy's old enough and I'd sure like to have a real Christmas."

He knows absolutely nothing about that shit except that it involves lights, a tree and presents. But he wants to make her happy so he says, "Yeah that sounds real nice. Ya know, I'm plannin' ta take off work tomorrow and stay with ya. Daryl's all lined out to run the job. How bout you and me and Tommy we go get whatever it is we need ta have a real nice Christmas. How's that?"

"Really Merle?"

"Yeah, really, why not? I never done it and it's about time. I'd like that. You, me and Tommy can have Christmas." Then it occurs to him and he adds, "I mean if you're still plannin' on stayin'."

"Well yes, of course I am, I mean I want to if you want me to."

"Well hell yeah I want ya too."

He kisses the top of her head and she says, "Thank you Merle, for looking out for me. And Christmas? You'll see, we'll have fun, I promise."

"I got no doubt about it, and if you and Tommy are having fun I know I'll be having fun." He knows no such thing but she seems happy and he wants to keep it that way.

"Tell me the truth now Beth, ya doin' okay?"

She's honest, "I was so scared Merle. I've never been more afraid for my life, or afraid of just being hurt, you know, physically hurt. And I felt so gross after he touched me, when I got in the bath I couldn't scrub my skin hard enough and…umm, oh never mind."

"No, not never mind. What? Tell me now, what's botherin' ya Beth? Is it what I done ta him?"

"No, not that. I was glad you hurt him." Her face is scarlet and she's trembling when she tells him, "I was so scared that after he did what he was trying to do to me…I thought you wouldn't want me anymore."

"Beth, shit, why would ya think that? It wouldn't be like sumthin' ya done cuz ya wanted some other man. And it wouldn't have nuthin' ta do with my feelings for ya. I'd want ya. I do want ya."

He's been reluctant to touch her, afraid the last thing she'd want is a man to try and get affectionate, but shit, he just has to give it a try. If she pushes him away, so be it. He takes her gently in his arms and his kiss is just as tender as his touch. She lays her head on his chest and softly tells him, "Thank you for beating him up Merle. I wish I could have helped."

He's laying in his bed but he's not sleeping. His eyes are wide open and he's staring up at the ceiling. Dammit, why the fuck did this have to happen?

It's not that he's worried about himself or Daryl, they know how to cover a trail and he's confident no one will ever link them to the disappearance of Phillip Blake. Even if they ask, there's nothing to tell and not a shred of evidence.

What he worries about is her. Is she going to be okay? She's so delicate and he saw the way that dirty muther fucker was handling her, just like he heard the words the son of a bitch said to her. Is she going to be scared by that? Scared to let a man make love to her? He's heard that happens.

An even worse thought comes to him. She saw what he did and she seemed to accept it, but when she thinks about all this later will she decide he's too brutal? He couldn't blame her if she did. She's sweet and she's sensitive and yeah, what would she want with a man like him?

And then he hears her soft footfalls and she's there, in his room and standing by his bed in her cotton nightie whispering, "Merle…"

He's worried and quickly props himself up on an elbow asking, "Beth, Darlin', ya okay? Sumthin' scare ya?" He reaches for her hand and she takes his and says, "I…can I sleep in here with you, in your bed?"

He thinks she's just scared and doesn't want to sleep alone. He wouldn't mind a bit, it's just that's a lot of temptation. How would he be able to resist touching her? He asks, "Well now Darlin', I don't wanna turn ya away but are ya sure you'd rather sleep here than in your bed?"

She answers, "I'm sure. I want to sleep with you Merle."

"Well yeah, okay, sure Darlin', but, um, I ain't wearin' nuthin'. If ya wanna turn around I can get up and pull my shorts on."

"Nothing?"

"Nuthin'."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

She doesn't miss a beat. She lifts the covers and crawls in his bed. She lays her slim arm across his belly and rests her head on his chest, and as she scoots her body closer she gives him the shock of his life, "I want you to make love to me Merle. Please."

He hasn't felt nervous about bedding a woman since he was a teenager, but he's nervous about this. Shit, maybe what she really needs is just real comfort. Not sexual comfort. Yeah, that's it, she just needs someone to keep reassuring her everything is all right.

With that thought in mind he asks her, "Beth, Darlin', I wanna make love to ya. Ya know I do. I just worry, are ya sure this is what you want? If all ya really need is ta be held, I'll hold ya all night long. I just don't wanna take advantage."

She leans up, looks in his eyes and says, "I want you Merle. You're everything I want. I'm more sure of that than I've ever been of anything, and I want you to make love to me."

Whatever resistance he might have been able to muster is gone with her words.

He cradles her face in his hand, sliding it back just far enough to thread his fingers in her hair. He's looking deeply into her pretty blue eyes when he says, "Ya got a some kinda power over me Beth and I don't even wanna fight it."

She smiles at his words and then his mouth is on hers. He doesn't rush, he takes his time to kiss her like a woman ought to be kissed, and when they're both breathless he begins to kiss her jawline, her throat, and when he starts to kiss and softly suck at the hollow between her neck and shoulder, in a soft and desire-filled voice she whispers, "Oh Merle…"

He leans up, rubs an open palm lightly across her shoulder and slips the strap of her nightie off. In a hoarse voice he whispers, "Ya got beautiful skin Darlin', it's like silk." His lips are on hers, and then back to her neck, while his hand has found the hem of her nightie and he's gently pulling it up. He asks permission, "Can I help ya take this off ya?"

She nods and whispers "yes" and it's not long before the nightie's off and it's been tossed somewhere near the foot of the bed.

He's captivated by the sweet look of her laying in his bed, managing to appear both sexy and innocent. He's never been so interested in getting to know a woman's body, but then he's never been with a woman he cared for so deeply.

She looks shy and a little embarrassed, but it's also plain to see she's titillated as he takes his time gently skimming along every inch of her skin with the tips of his fingers, leaving no part of her body untouched. He watches her face as he does what he's doing, leaning in to kiss her now and then.

She's starting to squirm and he can't help smiling when finally she tells him, "Merle, please…I…please."

He knows what she wants, he wants more too and his mouth envelopes her small breast while his hand slips between her legs and he cups her. His fingers begin to gently tug at her curls and tease her damp and ready opening, and she gasps when his finger slides inside her. He leans up to kiss her and says, "Don't ever be afraid ta tell me what ya want, cuz all I want Darlin' is ta make ya happy."

The words he speaks and the way he's touching her have Beth becoming more and more aroused. Her hips begin to rise as if seeking him out and there's something he wants. He'd like to kiss his way down her flat little tummy, and he does. But when he gets to her mound and she lets out a little yelp he decides, no, not this first time. He'll teach her all about that kind of love soon.

The way he's nibbling and sucking at her breast, his fingers pinching her nipples until it's almost painful, and his finger inside her teasing her while his thumb rubs at that sensitive little bump. All of that has her wanting more, wanting him.

"Merle…'

"What Darlin'?"

"Merle…"

"Ya gotta tell me what ya want Darlin'."

"Don't be mean…just…Merle please make love to me."

She makes him smile, he's not going to torture her anymore, besides, it's what he wants too. He kisses her hard on the mouth, says, "Just gotta get sumthin' here," he rolls away and reaches in the drawer of the bedside table.

She's never seen one, and she's never seen a real man naked. She watches with a mix of curiosity and desire as he rolls the condom on. He seems so big and like it's powerful or something, and now there's a little fear mixed in with all those other feelings. Is it too big? Is it going to hurt?

He kneels between her spread legs, reaching with his hands as he pinches her nipples and asks, "Ya ready Darlin', you're sure you want this?"

"I'm sure. I love you Merle and I want this with you." She didn't mean to tell him that, she wanted him to tell her first. It doesn't matter because right now she's so desperate to feel him inside her she can't think about anything else.

He's startled. He didn't expect to hear that. No woman has ever said those words to him, and he's sure as hell never said them to anyone. He only responds, "Aw Darlin', you're the sweetest thing I know."

It hits her a little sideways, he doesn't love her. That's her thought but she's distracted as he enters her and she lets out a squeal.

He's slow and careful. She seems so small and kind of fragile and the last thing he wants is to hurt her. He could never do that he…shit, yeah, that's what it is. He leans in, kisses her and says the words he can't believe, but that he knows are true, "I love ya Beth. I love ya Darlin'."

Their tender words of love seem to fuel the fire they feel for each other's bodies. Her slim legs wrap around him and his movements become a little faster as he goes deeper inside her. He keeps himself propped above her, he wants to see her face as they make love. She looks so beautiful, soft, pretty, with a fire in her cheeks and hunger in her eyes.

Another need consumes him and he has to pull his eyes away to once again taste her sweet breast. His strokes are deep and steady as his tongue and lips tease her nipple, and then he's propping himself on one arm as his hand slips down between them and his thumb once again starts to tease her now super sensitized little nub.

Her movements have quickened to match his and she almost sounds like she's in pain as over and over she whispers his name, "Merle…Merle…Oh Merle."

He knows she's on the edge and he quickens his movements, going deeper and harder inside her as he encourages, "C'mon Darlin', cum for me Beth. Cum for me."

It's the movement, it's his strong body, it's him inside her, it's the heat and the friction and the love, and it all works together and she does cum. Her body's shaking, her breathing ragged and desperate, her body reaching a sublime state of satisfied bliss.

Now he's pounding into her, she thinks it should hurt but it doesn't. She likes the feel of him taking her, and then his powerful body freezes for just a breath, and then he seems to shake apart as he growls her name, "Beth, dammit Beth, aw Darlin', ya make me feel so good."

He holds her while he recovers his breath, kisses her hard and says, "Be right back." And again, although she doesn't know, she knows. He has to take care of the condom.

He hurries to do just that, washes his hands and he's slipping back in bed with her. His powerful arm encircles her and he pulls her close. Everything just seems so right and he says, "I never said that ta anyone, never felt it, but now I know what love is cuz I got it for you Beth, all the love in the world."

"I love you too Merle."

His tone is so serious when he says, "I'ma take care of you and Tommy, Beth. Ya ain't gotta worry about that. Whatever you want or need Darlin', I just wanna make ya happy."

Three Months Later

He just picked up the final check for the big job. It shouldn't have gone as long as it did, but the Fat Cat kept adding onto what was already a palace. Not that Merle's complaining. The gift of the Fat Cat keeps on giving. He got Merle in with his Fat Cat buddies and he's already got two more contracts for what he's come to think of as Fat Cat Palaces.

He's very well aware that if it weren't for Fat Cat he would have never met his sweet wife. He wouldn't have a son named Tommy, yeah Fat Cat directed Merle to his Fat Cat lawyer who helped him get the birth certificate squared away. Tommy is now legally Thomas Merle Dixon. And Fat Cat may not ever know it, but he's paying for a new bedroom and bathroom being added on to the Dixon residence. There's a little one on the way who'll eventually need a room. And the way Beth's talking, there will eventually be two kids to a bedroom.

He can't believe any of it, but he likes it all.

Yeah, old Fat Cat started a whole chain of events he'll never even be aware of. That's okay, Merle will be having a drink in the man's honor just as soon as he gets home to his wife and son.

And They Lived Happily Ever After

A/N Well there it is. If you know me then you know, I like my endings like I like my people, happy. Please leave a comment. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please check it out. Thank you for reading along. I hope you'll consider reading some of my other stories. For now remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee