And Daryl should be right, that it wasn't so bad that Merle knew about Beth's and his little secret now. In contrast, it was even great and very helpful.
After that day Maggie had almost caught the two of them having sex inside Daryl's cell, they thanked Merle more than once about helping them out of their miserable situation.

Annoyed but also amused about their reaction, the man secured them it was alright and he was happy to be able to help them. The last he probably meant a little sarcastically, but still Merle wasn't the same any more, than Daryl was used to.

Final he said, that he will help them whenever he can and Merle really did so more than just once. Whenever someone was looking for them, he told the searching a story about that he had seen them on the other side of the prison, so they could finish with whatever they were doing without getting caught.

Daryl didn't have to say anything to his older brother, when after dinner he had planned to meet Beth. Merle could already read Daryl's expression and body language and so he just wished his little brother good night and left alone into his cell, with that knowing smirk on his lips.

Merle and Beth already became pretty good friends. Probably because she was already trained in handling and understanding a Dixon. Daryl always began to smile to himself, whenever he saw the two of them together. Also the rest of their family slowly started to get used to Merle and accept his presence.

Daryl could tell, that his older brother really tried his best to integrate himself into the working system. He helped wherever and whenever he could, was nice to everyone and respected the rules. More often, the younger Dixon also asked his brother about his point of view about different things and situations, because Daryl was still the leader of the prison.

In the last time, Daryl, Merle and Beth also got on runs together They were a rehearsed team. Maybe also because Beth understood their hunting habits and tricks, something the other didn't know, so it was very easy for them to communicate and being faster.

Sometimes, when everything had worked out like they had planned and wished, Beth and Daryl skipped the dinner to take a quick shower together. But only while everyone was upstairs eating their dinner and Merle had promised them to keep watch, so no one will catch them.

Even when they still had to make it pretty quickly and especially very quiet, it were still these moments which made Daryl extremely and endless happy. One time they almost got a heart attack, when they could hear someone entering the showers and Beth tried to hide behind Daryl's body, while they both braid that the one coming inside won't catch them.

It did sound funny, but they only began to breathe again and started to feel relieved the second they could hear Merle's voice resound in the room. Hershel was looking for Beth and Merle couldn't stop him. He just wanted to warn them, even when the old man wasn't the fastest with his legs any more, but still he told them to better make it quick and come to an end.

In chor, they both thanked the older Dixon, still standing pressed against each other and all wet inside the running shower. They could hear Merle mutter something unhearable, probably his usual 'I feel like a nanny' and only the thought about it caused Beth to giggle amused.

Like Merle had recommended them, they quickly got to an end, before Beth washed herself and stepped, not like usual, first out of the shower to look what her father wanted from her. Daryl stayed some more minutes under the warm water beams so no one will become sceptical, before he finally also left the shower.

Merle made it also finally possible, with the using of walkie talkies to warn the two of them, if anything unusual will happen during the night, while they were outside on their roof top. With a fluffy blanket under them and one above Daryl's back and still half clothed, they had sex like Beth had wished that one night.

Maybe it did sound stupid, but Daryl had really agreed to it, when Beth said, that this whole night was magical. The stars and the moon shining above their head, giving them some faint light to see the outlines of their love making bodies and the way the light sparkled their eyes.

The music of the crickets, the breeze moving softly trough the trees to make them rustle, the beautiful noices their bodies made and the way Daryl touched and made her feeling good. They were both really happy about getting this chance and spend as much time as they wanted together this night.

Still half naked, they crawled with the blankets around their bodies over to the big branch. Beth took place between Daryl's legs, so she could lean against his chest. With the blanket around his upper body, Daryl crossed his arms in front of her chest to keep her as warm as possible.

Peacefully the two of them watched the quiet surroundings and from time to time they just couldn't bring their lips apart any more. Daryl didn't know how late it already was, probably in the middle of the night, when Beth said she had seen something moving by the edge of the forest.

Daryl also narrowed his eyes to the spot she pointed at, but like her he could just see some branches moving, but nothing more. To soothe her, Daryl told Beth that it was probably just a deer, nothing she had to worry about. Maybe the unknowing and also because she knew Daryl just wanted to calm her down, even when he couldn't know it himself, caused Beth to start to tremble on her whole body.

Daryl tried to keep her warm for some minutes with moving his palms up and down her bare upper arms, but her body didn't stop shaking in front of him, so he finally decided that it was better for them to go inside now. He didn't want Beth to catch a cold.

Beth looked sad up at him, even when she knew Daryl was right. He finally cheered her up with saying that they could repeat this by their next chance. After they had dressed and he had brought Beth to her cell, without getting seen or heard of course, Daryl went by Merle's cell just to see him laying deep asleep inside his bed, the walkie talky still in his hand.

Daryl had to smile to himself then. Their ally wasn't that reliable like they had always thought, but it was already very late and like the two of them, Merle also had to work hard during the day. But still Daryl won't tell Beth about what he had just seen, because otherwise she wouldn't feel that secure and safe like right now any more. Besides it was in the middle of the night, who should go over to Beth's or his cell to look for them in such a late hour? The chances weren't that big like during the days.

While Daryl tried to fall asleep, when he was also finally laying in his bed, he thought about the reason why Merle was still staying here. Of course, he didn't want his brother to leave and he really liked his presence, but what the big, decisive moment was what had finally caused him to stay, Daryl didn't know till now.

Maybe it was the fact, the Merle had a good time with his brother and Beth together. Also the other were nice to him and he was all save inside here. And Daryl also had another guess. He was thinking about the day he had seen Merle smiling all truthfully and happy like he had never seen him before.

Daryl had just made a break from parting the woods so they could use it for fire wood, when he got over to Beth and Judith sitting on a blanket in the meadow.

The little girl began to smile instantly the second she saw him coming closer to them. Beth took Judith's hand to wave with her together at Daryl, who just copied their doing without thinking about how stupid he had to look with doing so.

Also Beth smiled over both of her ears, while Daryl joined them for a few minutes. Beth sat little Judith on top of the hunter's lab and the baby looked up at him with big eyes and a smile on her lips. Judith tried to reach for his bottle, which he finally gave her, after he had drunk urgently after working so long under the hot sunbeams.

Proudly Beth watched Daryl the whole time closely, while he handled with little Judith like he wasn't first afraid about doing something wrong or even hurting the little bunch of life. Finally Judith freed herself from Daryl's grip and she tried to crawl back to Beth, because the young woman was holding one of her favourite biscuits between her fingers.

Daryl laughed and asked Beth amused, if it was all the time so simply to get a girl to come over to him with just holding a biscuit between his fingers. Amused Beth answered, that she wasn't so sure about that, but if he wanted he could give it a try by her one time.

Daryl just gave her a knowing look, when they could both hear Merle's voice. He said, that he had already searched for Daryl for a longer time and needed some help. Daryl just wanted to stand up, when Beth stopped him with saying into Merle's direction, if he didn't want to join them for some minutes and make a break and drink something.

Merle finally agreed and sat himself on the very edge of the blanket, far away from the two of them and especially the baby. Daryl had already got it before, that Merle tried to keep himself away from the baby. The older Dixon was just the same like his little brother was before. He just didn't know how to handle with a baby and having the fear that it will start to cry instantly if he will just look at it.

Like always, Beth tried to ease the situation with talking about random things and smile bright. When Judith finally had enough from the already half-eaten biscuit inside her tiny fist, she freed herself also from Beth's lab and grip and crawled slowly and also shaky directly into Merle's direction. Like she wasn't from this world, the older Dixon eyed her suspecting, not knowing if he should keep sitting where he was or springing to his feet and run away as fast as possible.

Beth finally secured him, that he shouldn't be afraid and just act like he felt. Daryl was first also worried about doing something wrong, but there wasn't really anything he could do wrong, except taking her food away from Judith, Beth added knowing with a smirk on her lips.

Even when he was still all unsure, Merle kept where he was and watched excited the little girl coming closer and closer into this direction. Longer than he had expected, Judith finally reached his side, sat herself next to his leg and looked expectant up at him.

They could see him swallow hard, while he looked right back at Judith, not sure about what to say or saying anything at all. Finally the little girl reacted first and offered the man the half biscuit still inside her fist.

All surprised and shocked, Merle looked down at the baby, till he finally reached for the half softened biscuit. Judith obviously also didn't dare to move even one muscle in her face, while she still looked up at the man with an opened mouth.

"Thank you little girl." Merle finally said, which caused Judith to smile bright over her whole face. Daryl and Beth also began to giggle, before the blond secured him "You don't have to eat it, if you don't like already half softened biscuits."

"Ah, don't worry. In times like this you have to take everything you get." Merle said with also a smile in his face now and pulled the sweet inside his mouth. His old, scratchy voice caused Judith to smile even wider and also to giggle.

So the baby did every time Merle spoke again and even made these little bubbles witch her saliva, which Daryl still didn't know how she was doing these. But still Merle didn't try to hold or at least touch the baby, but still it was a beginning.

And little Judith began to cry bitterly, when the two men finally left them alone with their toys again. Beth secured the little girl, that she will see them later again, but nothing worked to calm her down again. So Beth finally followed the two men to their work, with the baby in her arms and together they watched the Daryl and Merle.

Whenever Daryl had the chance to, he waved over to the two girls standing in the shadow and after the fourth time, Merle also finally joined them and waved at little Judith. Maybe it was really a part, being one day able to hold and handle the baby all well, that stopped him from leaving the prison.

That day was three weeks ago now and Merle had never ever talked about leaving again. It was already sunset, shortly after dinner and before getting dark, when Daryl and Beth disappeared inside the guard tower to have some time on their own.

After they had made each feel good, they were laying happy and also tried on top of the mattress and just enjoyed the closeness, while they were both naked. At least Beth was so and Daryl was also just wearing his boxers.

He had just covered her still bare chest and neck with penty kisses and Beth giggled jubilant, because of the pleasure he was giving her, when they could hear the old, heavy door getting opened.

Before they could even start worrying and asking themselves who it might be, Merle's voice was hear able. "I really don't want to bother the two of you, but your sister is looking for you, youngest Greene." Merle said up to them and not like usual he stayed right next to the ladder and kept waiting for whatever he was waiting for.

Annoyed about her sister's worst habit to always having the need to know where she was, the blond finally stood up and dressed herself. Also Daryl got over to his clothes on the other side of the room and just when he turned around, he saw Merle looking up to him and in his expression Daryl could see, that right now his older brother had just seen his scares for the first time.

Before Beth left, she placed one last, quick kiss against Daryl's cheek and finally climbed downstairs and thanked Merle sweetly for warning them. Daryl would lie, if he would say he hadn't expected the older Dixon to climb up the ladder to him, after Beth was gone.

He had just pulled the shirt over his head, when Merle got upstairs. Not knowing how to say it out loud, the older Dixon eyed his younger brother long, before he finally asked with only one word "Father?"

"Yeah." Daryl simply answered, after swallowing hard, because it was still horrible for him to talk about it and showing his scars to someone else than Beth. Hating the upcoming silence, he finally added "After you have left." Understanding, but not saying anything any more, Merle nodded his head, before they got both silent.

Uncomfortable and also a little nervous, Daryl just wanted to light up a cigarette between his fingers, when Merle suddenly asked out of nowhere "Can I ask you something little brother?" Being all sceptical and also surprised about Merle's question, because he had never ever asked him such a question in his life before, Daryl finally nodded his head and said "Sure. Spit it out."

Still not knowing what he should think about this all, he watched his older brother close, expecting the worst. "Well.." Merle started, obviously not knowing how to start his question right. "What's the real reason, why the two of you aren't together? I mean, why isn't Beth already your girlfriend?"

Daryl had expected much, but not this. Not this uncomfortable question again. Daryl just couldn't believe his ears. Why was Merle so interested in this topic? What made him think this way? Why did he want to know that? It really was none of his business. "What?" Was finally all what Daryl's lips left, before he began to feel even more uncomfortable and embarrassed.

"You exactly know what I'm talking about Daryl. You two are more or less already together, as often you are meeting her. You have even shown her your scars, not even myself has known about them. You are obviously comfortable enough for that around her. And I know she likes you and I can also see you feel the same for her." Merle finally said it out loud and in this moment the older Dixon was more or less Daryl's mirror reflection and told him every truth he had already known deep inside himself, but didn't want to realise.

"You know nothing." Daryl countered back, before he went on "And you also exactly know who I am Merle. You know old the things I have done, I have wanted to do. The circumstances I have grown up. The way I am. What do you think Hershel or Maggie will think about this all, huh? I bet they haven't imagined Beth's boyfriend like the old, stupid redneck I am"

"You are only talking about the old man and her sister all the time. But it's about the two of you. Beth and you, together. What do you want? Stop thinking about what they want or what they are thinking, it's only your decision and no ones else. Stop trying to make it everyone right, because that's impossible. Don't listen to them and instead listen to Beth and what you want." Merle said back and it hit Daryl like a slap in the face. "But.. I'm just not good for her." Daryl stammered unsure, still thinking about his brother's words. But finally he got his strenght back, just thinking about the so many consequences and annoyed he asked "Doesn't this want to get inside your head man?"

"I see. But obviously you are good enough to fuck her all day long." Merle said scornfully, giving his younger brother that stupid look, like he knew already everything. But he didn't know anything, oh hell he really didn't. Because Merle was never ever in such a situation in his life before and so he just couldn't so simply tell him what should do and what not. Daryl also exactly knew it himself, that he shouldn't be in this situation right now. He should have said no already the very first day, to save Beth from himself.

"What did you just say?" Daryl said all angrily between clenched teeth, before he got closer to his brother, took the fabric of his shirt close to his neck into his left palm and said warning, his right hand already into a fist "Did you just called her a bitch?"

Pulling his hands surrendered up into the air, Merle rolled his eyes about the way this conversation was going. "Hell, no little brother. I just meant, that you shouldn't get yourself used by her." Being still with his head damn close to Merle's, Daryl finally spit out "She isn't using me. That's not her intention."

After looking his older brother dead in the eyes for some seconds, Daryl finally let go and stepped back once, so there was more space between the two of them again. "I know, I should have never started this. It's my fault and now I don't know how to stop it any more, without hurting her feelings." Daryl said more to himself than to the man standing in front of him.

"Maybe because you also don't want to hurt your own feelings and don't want to lose her." Merle offered and hell, Daryl had never heard more truth coming from his brother's lips than right now. Desperately he let his shoulder sank, while he breathed out of his lungs.

"But what should she do with someone like me? I don't deserve her." Daryl said thoughtfully, while he bit nervously down on his lower lip. "Why do you ask me this question? You should better ask Beth so and stop breaking your head the whole time because of it." Merle offered helpful and Daryl just wanted to ask once more, where his old reckless brother was, because hell. He was so right.