Sorry for the delay. As Abraham might say, I suck a big bag of dicks. Lol. I hate struggling through a chapter so it's been a slow process.

FYI I wrote an AU starring Merle and Sam awhile ago that I just posted. It's a one shot for now and takes place ten years before the turn, before she ended up in jail. It's called If You Want Trouble. Please check it out and let me know how you like it.

I don't own the walking dead etc. OC and non canon are mine.

Enjoy!

"They just have a big bin of handguns not being used. They won't even notice them missing." Carol explained the armory's inventory process. "I can go in, leave a window unlocked, come back at night. Nothing's guarded."

Merle relaxed against a tree as Rick, Daryl and Carol stood together discussing their backup plans. They had decided to meet beyond the walls knowing most of the safe zone residents didn't step foot outside.

"Got company." Daryl rasped, his head turning to see a walker stumbling their way. Merle continued to pick at his nails with his blade attachment drawling blandly, "Ya think we're gonna need 'em?"

"Better to have 'em than not." Rick answered his hand resting on his revolver as he watched the corpse shuffling towards them, "Jus' let me know when and I'll help ya."

Carol nodded and strolled towards the biter, raising her gun before unloading a full clip into the rotting man. Merle cocked an eyebrow at her, "Got some tension to work out sweetcheeks? Bet Darylina could help ya with that."

Daryl glared at him before huffing out an angry breath, "Fuck off Merle."

Carol rolled her eyes, "I'm out here practicing, I can't go back with a full clip."

Daryl peered down at the body on the ground, his boot toe the head to the side. "What's that?" he drawled, his chin ticking to the strange carving in the forehead of the walker.

"Looks like a 'W'." Merle rasped, his spidey senses going off at the letter cut into the dead's skin. "Keep an eye out for more of 'em. Looks like a callin' card."

Daryl grunted in reply before turning away from the rotting corpse.

Rick ticked his head towards the safe zone, "Le's go before someone notices."

"Those fuckers won't notice shit. Oblivious idiots." Merle spoke with disgust, "Sam told me the guard yesterday was reading a fucking book instead of watching the perimeter."

"We're gonna work on it. Sam and Sasha are going to take over the tower watches." Rick explained as they walked towards town, "I'm going to have patrols start and eventually we'll get more guard towers up. We need more eyes up high with these woods around us. Learned my lesson at the prison."

The group neared the gate when Carol spoke up, "Deanna's throwing a party tonight. I'll make sure the window's open."

The three men gave her a nod and Merle drawled, "I'll make sure t'leave a spot on my dance card for ya Dollface."

Carol wrinkled her nose and purse her lips, "I'd rather eat one of my casseroles than dance with you Merle."

Snorting he rasped, "Now don't lie, I'm the better lookin' brother and if I weren't taken you'd be all over me."

Daryl grunted from his right, "Why ya always gotta be such an asshole Merle?"

"You say Asshole, I say charming." He remarked with a shit-eating grin before passing through the gate and heading to the house. Sam was going to see the doctor and he wanted to be there. Merle didn't trust the drunk fucker any further than he could throw him.

Jogging up the steps he found Sam sitting on the porch swing, her eyes unfocused and mind far away. Merle walked slowly towards her and drawled, "Ya aright Sugar?"

Her head tilted up and she nodded slowly before standing upright, her worn boots bringing her into his chest. Merle gazed down at her deep blue eyes and cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing across the curve of her face.

"Sure?" he rasped, his eyes flicking over the crinkle of tension in her eyes and the line between her eyebrows. Sam sighed, leaning into his chest and resting her temple of his heart. He felt her take a few deep breathes before she finally spoke, "I.. I don't think I can do this."

Merle's stomach dropped and his lungs seized up. Now if it were the old world and the old Merle, the one who pumped and dumped girls left and right, a girl voluntarily getting rid of an unplanned spawn would have been a godsend.

That world and that Merle were long gone though and the one that stood on the porch with Sam wanted to be the father of her kid. He wanted it so bad that the idea of her getting rid of it like it wasn't the best thing to ever happen to him, nearly broke him.

"Whatcha sayin' girl." He growled, his anger boiling up so fast he surprised himself. Sam was aware of his sudden rage, her body tensing and backup slightly. She met his eyes with a narrowed gaze as if ready to fight if provoked.

"Just what I said Merle." She replied calmly but with an edge of anger.

Merle stepped back and scrubbed his face roughly and leaned against the porch railing. Pulling out his smokes, popping one in his mouth before flicking his lighter. He sucked in a slow, deep drag while looking at Sam, his narrowed eyes trailing over her. Letting the smoke drift out of his nostrils he rasped, "So what? ya flushin' my kid?"

Sam's eyes widened slightly before she looked away, her jaw clenched shut.

" 'cause that's what it sounds like to me. Sounds like you're gonna get ridda somethin' 'cause you're scared. Sounds like the strong fuckin' bitch I married is takin' the easy way out."

"That's not fair Merle." She growled, her eyes watery but fierce. "You won't be riskin' your life to have it."

"Sugar I risk my life every-fucking-day to take care o'mine." He drawled, sucking the last inch of his smoke in a painful drag, before flicking it away. On his last exhale he spoke gruffly, "I'll be takin' care of our kid, just like I take care of you."

Sam sniffed, her arms crossed as she looked away. He could see her chewing her cheek while watching the empty street with vacant eyes. Finally glancing over at him she whispered, "I'm gonna be shit at it."

"At what? givin' birth, Sugar all ya do is push."

"No Merle Goddamn it, I'm gonna be a shit mom." She growled through clenched teeth. "I don't know how to be good to some baby. Fuck I don't even remember my mom doin' shit for me grownin' up. How the fuck am I supposed know what to do?"

Merle felt his breathing slow down as he realized Sam was more worried and scared about being a good parent rather than being a parent at all. She was struggling to see herself being a good mom, not being a mom at all.

"Ain't gotta worry about none of that shit Sam." He assured, stepping forward to cup her neck. "Me and you, we'll figure it out together. Ya think I got some good parental role models to follow? Shit, all I'm hopin' for is that I ain't ever anything like my fuckin' bastard Pa."

Sam pressed her forehead into his chest and he felt her inhale a shuddered breath, the slow release of it tickling his neck. "What if this place falls? What if we lose it and…"

He interrupted her thoughts instantly, "What if this, what if that? Ain't no reason to play the 'what the fuck if' game Sugar. There's always gonna be shit thrown at us. Happened in the old world and it happens now."

"Yeah but in the old world it would be like, having enough money to buy diapers and now it's having walls to keep out murderers and monsters."

"We can handle it."

"Merle." She muttered, pulling back to look up at him, "Havin' a kid now isn't smart."

"Never was Sugar." He drawled with a grin, "Their little assholes who piss and shit their pants. They depend on ya for every damn thing and when they get older they hate your guts. Ain't ever been a smart thing t'do."

Sam chuckled quietly and closed her eyes tightly before sliding them open, "Sorry. I think the hormones are already making me insane."

"Great, are ya sayin' its gonna get worse 'cuz if so I'll see ya in 9 months." He rasped, an amused twinkle in his eyes. Sam smacked his chest playfully and growled, "Shuddup, Ass."

Merle smirked and cupped her neck, his thumb massaging her tense muscles. "Ya good Sugar?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go see if the Doc is any good.

"Alright."

"When was your last cycle?" the tall blonde man asked from his seat in front of her. He pressed his stethoscope on her back while she took deep breathes and answered his questions, "I'm not sure. It's been a couple months at least but it's really irregular. Depends on how bad we're rationing."

Pete nodded and explained, "That makes sense. The body protecting itself. We'll do some blood tests and once we get the positive pregnancy we'll do an ultrasound."

Merle stood nearby, his arms crossed as he watched every move the guy made. Sam smirked slightly as his eyes narrowed and a growl vibrated through his chest the doctor's hands pressed on her lower abdomen.

Pete glanced at him and drawled, "Easy. I'm just doin' my job."

Merle only grunted while resting a hand next to his blade handle. Sam sighed, "Are we all done?"

"I'll get the blood and then get you some vitamins. You need to be taking folic acid in addition to the prenatals. You're diet has probably been lacking."

Merle seemed irritated by the statement seeming to take it as an insult to his ability to care for her. Sam let him tie the rubber band around her arm before taking a few vials of blood. Glancing at Merle she saw him watching with a creased forehead and clenched fist. She wasn't sure what his tension was for but wanted to leave the stressful situation as soon as possible. Pete handed her two bottles of vitamins and told her he would get back with her about the blood tests.

The pair walked home, Merle looking to be deep in thought and Sam racking her brain trying to think of what could have triggered his strain.

"What's wrong?" she finally asked as they climbed the stairs to their tiny bedroom. Merle grunted but didn't explain his worries, his body slumping back on the bed, his feet on the floor. Sam sat next to him and unlaced her tall boots as the idea of a hot shower sounded better and better.

"There's a party tonight." He rasped from his spot on the bed, his arms folded behind his head and his eyes closed. Sam huffed out a breath, "These people are delusional."

"True but there'll be food and beer."

"Goddamnit, I can't drink." She bitched the idea pissing her off more than necessary. Merle snorted and reached up, stroking her back, "It'll be worth it."

"So says you, asshole." She muttered without any real malice.

He barked out a laugh and rasped, "You takin' a shower?"

"Yeah. Join me." she suggested with a smirked, the idea of being naked with the man sounding better than alcohol. Merle growled deeply, his fingers curling into her hip, "Sugar, lead the way."

Pulling off her clothing with no hesitation she gave Merle a seductive grin, her body exposed to him quickly. The man groaned slightly as she slid her bra off and stepped out of her panties.

"Damn Sugar." He grunted, yanking his shirt off and dropping his jeans instantly, "Get your ass over here."

Merle looked down at the woman of his dreams as she sucked his cock like it was the best thing since sliced bread. Her hot wanton mouth moaning around the swollen skin, her wet tongue curled along the ridge of the head. A guttural groan ripped out of his barrel chest when her hands joined her mouth, one rubbing the length she couldn't swallow and the other scraping her nails down his inner thigh.

"Motherfucker." He snarled when she squeezed his balls while swallowing around his cock, throwing his head back painfully into the tiled wall.

"Jesus fucking Christ Sam." He gasped, the wet heat of her mouth and the pounding showerhead making him dizzy.

"Wanna cum in my mouth baby?" she asked with swollen lips and dark eyes, "Or do want to fuck me silly?"

"Get. The fuck. Up here." he growled, yanking her to her feet and pressing her front into the wall. Merle tapped her inner thighs with his knee, spreading her wide enough to accommodate him. Pulling her hips back slightly he arched her body before sliding to the hilt inside her. Water was pelting them, the man humming at the sight of her curved hips and narrow waist. Smoothing his hand up her back to grip her shoulder while his blunt arm braced her hip. Groaning he slid home with rapid but controlled plunges. The woman moaned low and hard, her hot walls squeezing Merle's swollen cock by the root. The two rolled with each other, hips swaying and body's thrusting.

"That's it baby girl," he rasped into her neck, his teeth biting into her shoulder before sucking a deep red bruise into the tan skin "You takin' what I give ya Sam, huh?"

"Yes." She gasped, her forehead pressing into the wet tiles, "Please."

"Fuck. Beg me." he ordered, his fingers digging into her soft waist, "Beg me Sugar."

"Please, Merle. I wanna… I wanna cum on your cock."

"Fuck Sugar." He snarled, the filthy words making him throb, his teeth nipping her ear as he panted on her cheek, "Imma make ya cum Sug. Imma make ya cum so hard."

"Shit." She groaned as he drove into her hard and fast. Gripping her hip while wrapping his blunt ended forearm across her chest he kept a brutal pace. There wasn't a thing he wouldn't do for this woman, even if it meant dying from a heart attack to make her cum harder than she had in her life.

A keening moan ripped through her small frame when his hand slid between her thighs, his rough fingers squeezing and pulling on her clit.

"That's it." He demanded, his voice hoarse and winded "I feel ya. Gimme it, Sugar."

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Sam cursed, her fingers curling into the tile desperate for something to cling to only to fail. The tremors that wracked her body had her knees buckling, Merle having to hold her up with an arm around her stomach. He could feel the bump starting to form on her abdomen, a twinge of worry hitting him for how rough he just was with her. A few more plunges had Merle emptying inside her, his fingers digging into the curved flesh of her hip.

"Sugar. Oh fuck." He moaned, his teeth pressing into the side of her neck as he panted curses into the overheated flesh. "Love you. I love you Samantha." He gasped, his hand releasing the biting grip to smooth long paths up and down her quivering body.

"Love you Merle." She murmured, her forehead pressed into the cool tile. "M'tired now."

Chuckling he rasped, "I'd fuckin' hope. Jesus. I'm dyin' back here."

Sam snorted and turned around as he slid from between her trembling thighs. "Bed?"

"Yeah." He replied, kissing her softly on the lips, his hand resting on the curve of her stomach.

"Is it safe to be that rough with ya?" Merle asked as they lay in bed, his hand resting over the bump now forming under her tshirt that seemed to have appeared overnight. Sam nodded drowsily her lips resting against his shoulder, "If it ever hurts, I'll let ya know."

"Should ask someone." He instructed while trailing his fingers through the hair at her temple, "Just in case."

"Ok. I'll ask Pete the next time I see him."

"No." Merle spoke instantly, "Not him."

"Why?"

"I don't trust that fucker." He explained, "Ask Carol or something."

"Alright but why don't you trust him? He seemed less drunk today."

Merle grunted, his eyes not meeting her until she flicked his nose with her finger. "Stop," he grunted, pressing her hand into his chest, "I just.. the fucker just pissed me off with his whole accusation I wasn't takin' care of ya."

"What are you talking about, he didn't say that." Sam exclaimed, her eyes rolling.

Merle growled at her snarking tone, "He implied it. Kept talkin' 'bout how ya didn' eat right and how shit your health was."

Sighing she leaned back and tried appease his worries, "He wasn't sayin you didn' take care of me."

"He implied it." He growled, his fist clenched and eyes flashing angrily.

Trying the tough love approach, she teased, "I think you're being too sensitive."

"Fuck off."

"Merle."

"Fuck off."

"Merle!" she growled slapping his chest when he wouldn't look at her, "Stop being a baby and look at me."

"What!?" he snarled hopping out of bed and pacing the floor buck naked. "He fuckin' said you didn't eat enough. That's on me. It's my fuckin' responsibility to take care of mine and I done a shit job. Ya ain't healthy and that's on me, your husband."

"Merle," she spoke softer, her chest aching at the guilt in his eyes, "We all did the best we could. You did the best you could."

"Yeah well it ain't enough and that means I'm a shit husband and it means I'm gonna be a shit-"

"Don't say that." She interrupted him, the idea that he thought he would be a bad dad made her chest throb. Now she knew how he felt earlier in the day when she was plagued with doubts. "You are going to be great with our kid. You'll keep 'em safe and fed."

"Not likely. I'll probably be shit at it and then they'll hate me. Ya thought it'd be you being bad at it but it's gonna be me."

"Doubt it." Sam murmured, reaching out for Merle's hand, "C'mere."

Sighing Merle sat down on the edge of the bed, his elbows on his knees. Sam curled around him from behind, her chest pressed into his warm back and her chin resting on his broad shoulder, "We are figuring this out together remember? You told me this mornin'. You and me will make it work together."

Nodding he whispered, "Ya gotta tell me when I fuck up."

"Since when do I not tell you when you fuck up?" she asked with a slow grin making the man chuckle lightly. Merle turned his head and kissed her gently, "Never."

"Exactly." She replied kissing him on the cheek, "Now get your ass over here and nap with me. I'm exhausted from getting fucked proper and want to sleep before this stupid party tonight."

Sam felt uncomfortable wearing a dress. The clingy black fabric landed at her knees, the low cut front showed off her increased bustline. She couldn't even remember the last time she wore one and probably wouldn't have if it weren't for the sex hungry gaze Merle gave her when she exited the bedroom in it. The wild blue eyes were watching her from across the room as he talked to Glenn, his hand holding a beer lazily while wetting his bottom lip.

"He looks like he wants to eat you whole." Michonne commented blandly while spearing an olive with a tiny plastic sword, popping it into her mouth. Sam smirked, "and he will."

"Ugh. Gross." Michonne groaned while wrinkling her nose.

"What you brought it up and I can't help it." Sam laughed with bright eyes, "My hormones are out of fucking control. You're lucky I even showed up."

Michonne snorted and asked, "So how did the doctor visit go? He do a test?"

"Yeah. Got back to me this afternoon." She spoke with a tiny smile, "Looks like I'm going to be some unfortunate kid's mom."

"Oh shush. You'll do great. Besides, think of all the aunts and uncles he or she will have." Michonne offered with a wide grin, "Plus Judith will have a playmate."

"True." Sam murmured, her eyes scanning the group to see Rick, Carl and Judith enter the house. He watched as the blonde greeted him with a wide smile making Sam cock an eyebrow at Michonne. Shrugging the woman muttered, "Don't ask me."

"Hi I'm Olivia." A large woman with brunette hair and glasses spoke from the side. Sam looked down at her hand and shook it awkwardly. "Sam." She replied and ticked her chin to her friend, "This is Michonne."

"Nice to meet you both." Olivia spoke politely, "I work in the supply room, so if you ever need anything come see me. If I don't have it I can put in a request to the supply runners."

"Thanks." Sam murmured thinking of all the baby things they would need soon. That thought alone made her heart quicken. 'Fuck what if we can't find shit we need?' she thought anxiously, her eyes glancing at Michonne's curious ones.

"It'll be fine." Michonne drawled without even having to ask.

"What will?" Olivia asked with a wrinkled forehead.

"Nothin'." Sam replied, "Thanks Michonne. I'm gonna get some air."

Stepping out onto the porch she saw Abraham drinking a beer while sitting on the top steps. Sitting next to him she smirked when his drunken grin grew wider.

"Hey there Sammy Sunshine." He rasped, making Sam chuckle loudly.

"Jesus you're three sheets to the wind aint ya?"

"Pffft. Just enjoyin' the festivities." He replied, offering her the remainder of his beer, "What some?"

"No thanks."

"Don't drink?"

Clearing her throat she shook her head, "Nah. Not anymore."

Looking at her a moment he smiled slowly, "You got a bun in the oven dontcha?"

"Shhh." Sam hushed, looking around before whispering, "How do you know?"

"Well." He began slowly, "Merle's been awfully protective, which ain't new really because that guy is like a fuckin' pitbull on a bone when it comes to you but the last week he's been all kinds of riled up." Abraham took a deep pull from the beer before continuing, "He's been stickin' close and I seen him touchin' your stomach. I didn't put it together until ya said ya ain't drinking but also you're all…" he motioned to her face and body which made her raise an eyebrow.

"I'm all what?"

"Glowy 'n shit. I remember when my wife was pregnant..." He started but swallowed back the rest of his words. Scrubbing his face he glanced back at Sam and spoke hoarsely, "Ya look nice. Happy even."

Smiling sadly at him she patted him on the back feeling slightly awkward since they didn't know each other that well. "Thanks Abe."

"No problem." He responded standing up on unsteady feet, "I think I might be needin' some more libations. Need anythin? A pig in a blanket or one of those god awful cookies Carol made?"

Laughing slightly Sam shook her head, "I'm all good, thanks though."

Merle joined her moments after Abraham left, his wide shoulders bumping hers as he sat down. "Ya ok?"

"Yeah, too many damn people in there." She replied, glancing over at him, "Abe knows."

"Figured as much. He called me Big Papa before heading for the beer." Merle drawled with a smirk, "We should probably tell people before it gets outs on its own."

"Yeah." She spoke with a sigh and laid her head on his shoulder, "We're gonna be ok right?"

"Its gonna be fine Sugar." He replied calmly, his hand sliding along her lower back to grip her hip, "You, me and Peanut."

"Peanut huh?" she asked with a grin, her eyes bright in amusement.

"Yeah. Dr said it's like the size of a peanut now, right?"

"Yeah I think so."

"Well it's our little Peanut then." He replied with a grin, looking down at her stomach. Placing his forearm across her stomach, he stroked the place that held such fragile cargo. Sam smirked and laid a hand over his forearm resting above the tiny life growing and murmured, "Peanut it is."

Sam walked towards the gate with her rifle and small pack containing emergency rations. She was relieving Sasha from watch and would work on clearing the wall of walkers. As she reached the gate she was met by Deanna, her hand holding a box of rounds and a paper sack.

"Hello, Sam." The older woman spoke as Sam reached the large gate, "I have ammunition for you and lunch."

Sam took the box and murmured, "I have rations with me already."

"This is some fresh bread Olivia made up last week and a few fresh tomatoes from my garden." Deanna informed, "Save your canned stuff for later."

Nodding she took the bag and slid it into her pack, her feet shuffling when the woman didn't move out of the way. Cocking an eyebrow Sam asked, "Something else?"

"You didn't mention you were pregnant when you arrived."

Sam swallowed thickly as fear filled her chest. She wasn't too sure how the camp's leader would feel about another mouth to feed. "I uh… I wasn't sure until Pete told me."

"Its wonderful news." Deanna spoke with a smile, her hand touching Sam's arm, "Congratulations."

Clearing her throat awkwardly Sam nodded, "Thanks."

"Be safe out there Sam." Deanna instructed with a smile, "Both of you."

Sliding through the open gate Sam walked the perimeter to get to the tower being used as a scout position. She whistled when she arrived letting Sasha know she had arrived. The door creaked open and Sasha motioned for her to come in.

"I'm fine you know." Sasha remarked while climbing the stairs, "I can stay longer."

"I know but it's good to take a break, keep your eyes fresh." Sam suggested, "You can stay if you want. Nap."

"I'm fine." Sasha grumbled picking up her rifle and pack before stomping down the stairs. Sam watched as she went into the woods rather than return to the safe zone. Shrugging Sam got herself set up, her rifle propped up in the window while settling on a stool someone had brought up. Scanning the woods and walls Sam began thinning the walkers who circled the perimeter. It didn't take long for her to clear the fence line, the steady puff of her silenced rifle and the even thump of her heartbeat was the only sound she heard. It was the first time in a long time that Sam's mind was calm. A stillness rolled over her and she let everything fall away. There were no worries, no fears, only finding a target and squeezing a trigger. It was peaceful despite how morbid it was.

A few hours into her shift she watched as Daryl and Aaron returned from the woods, both men looking rough around the edges. Narrowing her eyes she followed them until the reached the gate, Daryl gave Aaron a nod as he headed over to the tower base. Sam set her gun aside and headed down to open the door.

"Hey." She spoke evenly, her eyes taking in his tense face. "Ya aright?"

The man entered, his shoulder brushing past her and heading up the stairs. She heard him grunt in response as he leaned against the window she was perched in. Sam joined him and sat down, picking up her rifle to scan the woods again. Staying silent, Sam let Daryl simmer knowing he was just like his brother, pushing him would only piss him off.

"How ya feelin'?" Daryl rasped a few minutes later, his eyes cutting to her before returning to the woods. Sam smirked, "I'm good. Now what's wrong?"

Rolling his eyes, Daryl crossed his arms, one thumb firmly bitten between his teeth. He rolled a shoulder and grunted in response. Sam snorted and elbowed him in the ribs, "Talk Dixon."

"This place… its gotta work." He rasped, while looking at the tall walls "We gotta make it work but… it shouldn't be by force 'n Rick's pushin' for it. Seems like… seems like he wants it t'be a fight."

Sam chewed her lip and nodded along, she knew what he was saying. She'd seen the wild look in Rick's eye lately. He seemed edgy and aggressive which was understandable; his family was now surrounded by new possible threats. Rick was feeling out of control and the quickest way to fix it was to do it by force.

"Be the voice of reason."

Daryl snorted and rolled his eyes to hers, "Ya know who you're talkin' to right?"

Laughing she bumped his shoulder playfully, "Yeah the more reasonable Dixon of the two."

"Don't let Merle hear ya say that."

Rolling her eyes she shot another walker stumbling through the shrubs. "I'm not afraid of that old bastard." She commented with a grin, " 'sides he'd probably agree with me."

Daryl snorted and looked out into the woods, his eyes unfocused and strained. Sam set her rifle down and asked, "that all that's bothering you?"

"Aaron wants me on recruiting with him… I'd be gone a lot." He replied after a few moments of silence. Sam swallowed thickly, the urge to beg him to stay bubbling up in her chest. She didn't like the idea of him out in the world with someone they didn't know well. He had quickly become family and Sam couldn't help but want to make sure he was safe.

"What do you want to do?"

"Everybody's got a job… Aaron thinks…" He paused his eyes nervous but after looking at her for a moment he continued, "he thinks I'd be good at it. Says I know the good from the bad."

Sam smiled and nodded when he fell silent. "He's right."

Daryl rolled his shoulder, the nervous look in his eyes showing Sam the real issue. Unlike his brother, Daryl was never to sure of himself and she knew it stemmed from their childhoods. Where Merle turned the abuse they endured into armor, a thick coating of shit talking and bravado covering his insecurities, Daryl internalized everything. He packed it away and even though he developed a wall to keep people out and his emotions in, the man never felt in control or strong. Where the putdowns caused Merle to be a snarling shit talker, they made Daryl into a introvert.

"You can read people Daryl." She expanded, her lip curling up, "you see everything that everybody else misses because they're too busy listening to themselves talk. If Aaron needs help bringing people back, I can't think of anyone else I'd trust to do it."

Daryl chewed his lip anxiously, his eyes flitting from her's to the woods as he digested her words. Sam picked up her rifle, her keen eyes scanning the grounds again before putting two more dead down.

"So you think we should still bring people in?"

Sam shifted uncomfortably and murmured, "I guess if they're good people there's no reason not too."

"More mouths to feed." He drawled, his own worries making their way out.

"More hands to find food." She countered, a challenging eyebrow raised.

"More people to protect." He replied but his words softer.

"More people to help protect us." She added, lowering her rifle. "As much as I want to believe I'll be ok to help secure the town and do runs, I will eventually be to fat do shit."

Daryl snorted and teased, "Ya talkin' about before or after haven' the kid?"

"Fuck you!" she snapped but laughed, elbowing him hard in the ribs. "Jackass."

Daryl chuckled and peered out the window towards the gate. "Here comes trouble," he muttered causing Sam to tear her eyes away from the forest line she was watching. Merle was stomping their way his eyes looking far from at ease.

"Someone's pissed him off," she murmured, as Daryl descended the stairs to open the door.

The sound of Merle's heavy boots trudging up the stairs with an angry stride. As he enter the room she saw his tshirt was soaked in sweat and his face red from being in the sun all day. Deanna had placed him on the construction crew for the day with Abraham. He had been working on collecting supplies for the fence extensions planned. Cocking an eyebrow she asked, "Who did something stupid?"

"Where ya want me t'begin? The old broad runnin' this shit show like we're all livin' in fucking Mayberry with Officer Friendly and his deputy Darky," he sneered, his thumb flicking his lighter with excessive aggression. The plastic pissing him off so much that he chucked it out the window in a huff. "Or the gutless pussies they got runnin' the crew? Yellow poxy bastards cut 'n run when the shit hits the fan."

Sam's eyes were wide by the end of his tirade, the man having been in a significantly better mood when they rolled out of bed that morning fully satiated from the night before.

"What happened exactly?" she asked her eyes returning to the wall while listening to him explain his day.

The crew had been overrun by walkers at one point and a woman on the team was abandoned by all the other workers except for Abraham and Merle. Sam ground her teeth, muttering curses under her breath while blowing away three more walkers in quick succession. When she glanced back she saw Merle grin, "You're enjoying the wall ain't ya?"

"It's calming, what can I say?" she snarked setting her gun down and turning around, her arms crossed. "It's better than me shooting those assholes who almost got you killed."

Chuckling he pulled her into his chest while Daryl asked, "everybody make it home?"

Merle nodded with a grunt in response, his arms squeezing her tightly. "Think Big Reds gonna take over. Damn foreman didn't know shit about leading. A jarhead will be perfect."

Daryl left soon after, leaving Merle and Sam on watch. She slipped back into her seat to scope out more targets while Merle leaned against the window frame.

"Still great shot Sugar." He commented as she hit a walker 100 yards out. Sam smiled softly while releasing her magazine for a new one.

"Hopefully I can still be useful up here when I turn into a whale." She replied, her finger squeezing the trigger once more. Merle huffed out a breath before informing her, "ya ain't leavin' the walls when ya get bigger."

"I'll be in here."

"Still outside. If we get a tower built inside, far away from the shit out there then yeah but I ain't lettin ya leave camp."

"Merle."

"No 'Merle but' Okay? I ain't chancin' ya gettin' stuck out here when ya can't run. All it takes is one damn biter or some other asshole to come along and take ya, take our kid. Ain't happenin'."

Sam clenched her teeth while glaring at the woods. In many ways she completely understood his point of view. She knew once she got larger, her ability to run would be hindered but she still felt she could defend herself. Not just herself but the thought of someone or something hurting the life inside her had rage rushing up instantly.

"Nothin's happening to this kid Merle. I won't let it." She growled, her determined eyes meeting his, "I'll do what I gotta to keep Peanut safe."

Nodding he assured, "I know Sugar. Just want to prevent it from happenin',

"I don't want to be weak." Sam confessed.

"Ya ain't weak. Ya gotta be strong to carry a Dixon whelp." He joked, his hand smacking her ass, adding much to her dismay, "I was a ten pounder."

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