Hershel picked her up exactly at 7:30. They danced, and talked and ate. He was walking her back to her place. Meredith smiled looking at him at the doorway. "Want to come in?" She put the key in the lock and unlocked the door.

"Sure." He smiled and followed her inside. She sat on the sofa with him and watched a movie. "I think Ms Grundie is slightly jealous that you were dancing with me tonight." He chuckled slightly.

"Probably." Meredith smiled and laughed. "She really couldn't keep away either. Kept trying to cut in."

"Well some of the local guys were looking at you too." He shook his head. "Really pushy on you."

"Yeah, I'm not used to that still." Meredith sighed and relaxed. "Oh well." She felt his hand rub her shoulders and pulled her closer. She placed a free hand on his other hand and scooted closer.

They just relaxed and watched a movie or two. Hershel eventually left around midnight and made his way home. Meredith relaxed and smiled. She was trying to not get her hopes up that quick about someone, but couldn't help it.

July - August - September - October - November - December

The next few months flew by, Hershel and Meredith started talking more and seeing each other more. She even went to his farm on the weekends to help out, and cut back her hours during the week to help him with the girls on the farm.

It was New Years' Eve. Hershel and Meredith went to the next town over for the celebration and spent time together dancing and enjoying the party.

Hershel was honest about his past drinking issues with Meredith, and Meredith was understanding and helped keep him on track also. They opted for water at the party, along with just sparking non-alcoholic juice to ring in the new year. They stood together and counted down with everyone else, as the ball dropped.

10…...9…...8…..

"Ms..Kelley…" Hershel said looking at her, keeping a hand on her shoulders.

"Yes Mr Greene?" She said glancing up at him.

6….5…..4…

"Could we….." He looked a her listening to the countdown..

"Yes." She smiled "You may - We may."

2…..1…..

"Happy New Year!" Everyone hollered and kissed the dates they brought with them.

Hershel leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. Meredith smiled and kissed him back. She took her free arm and wrapped it around his neck and kissed him more.

Hershel groaned softly feeling her soft ruby red painted lips against his rough lips. He smiled slightly and wrapped his free arm around her waist and held her close.

Meredith was breathing slightly hard after the kiss and smiled. She could have sworn it was her first kiss ever, and felt the heat rise to her cheeks. "Thank you." She smiled and laughed softly. "Happy New Year, Mr Greene.."

Hershel chuckled slightly watching her. "No, Thank you." He said holding her close, and felt her head rest on his chest. He stroked her hair softly, and smiled. "Happy New Year, Ms Kelley." He leaned down and kissed her again. Meredith smiled and kissed him back, relaxing.

Meredith smiled and laid her head on his chest and caught her breath, after they broke the second kiss. Once, she did, they ended up dancing for a while longer and started walking down the block to their motel room, they requested two beds in a single room. That's what they got.

Meredith laughed walking with him. "That was a good party."

"It was. We shall go out more." Hershel smiled and laughed.

"Within reason." Meredith smiled softly, wrapping an arm around him as they walked.

Hershel smiled and did the same. "Once a month at least. Good to get away and have some quality time together."

They turned down the block to get to the motel quicker. Two men stepped out one was holding a gun. Hershel and Meredith stopped.

"Give us your wallets." The one with the gun ordered.

"Alright." Hershel said slowly taking his out. Meredith did the same thing. They tossed them on the ground and slowly backed up. "You have what you want. Move on." He said firmly.

"No… That's not all." The one said looking at Meredith.

Hershel moved and put her behind him. "Like hell you are." He said frowning, he never cursed.

The one with the gun shot at Hershel in the leg and then tackled him to the ground. Meredith was fighting the other one and managed to get away once but was taken down again.

Hershel was fighting the one that shot him and was currently pinned down being punched repeatedly in the face.

Meredith was being held down as her dress was ripped up the side and fought with him. She bit his hand hard and drew blood. He punched her hard and she went limp. He continued doing what was doing... She cried out loud, and she closed her eyes feeling him put his hands around her throat and continued what he was doing.

Hershel took a hard beating. He finally got the gunman in a weak spot and flipped him, and was beating him hard and senseless. He got up and went over the other one and got him off her and started beating him. The first one came and attacked Herschel. Hershel was thrown and hit his head on the ground. The two men took off running.

Hershel groaned and rolled over. He rubbed the back of his head and felt a good size goose-egg forming. He managed to get up and go over to Meredith.

Meredith slowly got up and curled up into a ball. She had been beaten badly also. He rubbed her back slightly. "Ms Kelley." He groaned, sitting next to her, he moved her and held her close in his lap. "It's alright, they are gone. I got you." He winced feeling her recoil from him. He saw his cell phone on the floor, grabbed it and called the police, told them what happened.

Meredith saw his leg and put her hand on it and pressed hard. She just nodded and didn't say anything.

Meredith and Hershel were taken to the hospital, and given exams and checked out by doctors along with being questioned by the police and everything else. They were released the next day. Hershel only had a flesh wound, he didn't have a concussion. He was worried about Meredith and how she was dealing with everything. He helped her into the car. Meredith nodded and forced a weak smile. "Thank you." she said getting into his pickup.

Meredith finally broke the silence after a half hour in the car, "I...I'm sorry."

"For what?" Hershel said glancing over at her confused.

"I suggested we go out of town instead of staying in for the new year.." She was in tears at this point.

Hershel shook his head, "You couldn't have known this would happen, nobody could have known. It was just.. Unexpected. Nobody is at fault here." He said placing a hand on her's. He also got out his handkerchief and gave it to her.

Meredith bit her lip and nodded, "I guess so." She sighed and took his hand. She was given the morning after pill that morning by a doctor. It had been 6 days since it happened.

"We will be okay." Hershel promised, and smiled at her. He was driving her home from a meeting with pastor.

Meredith nodded wiping her eyes and sighed. " I hope so."

"I'd hate for you to be alone…again.." Hershel said as he turned down his road. "What if…" He pulled over on the side of the road. "What if you moved in with us?"

Meredith smiled slightly and bit her lip. "Wouldn't that be frowned upon by the town?"

"I don't care what everyone else things. I do most definitely would love to have you around more, and would be feel better if you were not alone right now." He paused, and turned more to her. "We have an extra bedroom that can be yours."

Meredith smiled slightly and played with her fingers. "What would the girls say?"

Hershel smiled. "I'll talk to them about it." He watched her for a minute. "That would love having you there though." He moved his hand and pushed some hair from her face behind her ear.

She closed her eyes, and breathed for a second. "Alright. I'd love to move in with you." She smiled slightly. "Might not be best to be alone anyway." She leaned over and hugged him. She was more alone now that Mrs Lia died over thanksgiving break. "It's been hard enough."

"Heck you practically live at my place anyway." He chuckled. "You come over after work and stay until midnight." He rubbed her back.

She blushed and laughed softly. "Yeah, kind of hard to leave sometimes."

Hershel called Pat and told her they would be home around lunch. He drove to Meredith's and helped her pack. She had rented a fully furnished house, and only wanted her clothing, along with her family's ashes, and dog's ashes. She then got her photo album, and a few other things. She didn't have much - just what few things she could pack in her car. She called her old neighbor and told her she was moving just didn't tell her where. She signed the papers back to the neighbor and got her three boxes into Hershel's truck and drove off with him. She had left her car at Hershel's from the other day.

They got home, and Hershel carried Ms Kelleys things inside, and helped her into the house.

"Daddy!" Beth cried seeing him come inside, she hugged his injured leg and he groaned softly. "Sorry daddy." She frowned.

Maggie came downstairs and hugged him tightly too. "You both okay?"

"We're okay." Hershel smiled softly, they both had bruised faces, but tried playing everything else off as being okay. They didn't need to know everything else that happened.

Ms Kelley walked in the door and smiled. "Hi Girls." She said putting down her little suitcase.

"Ms Kelley!" Beth giggled and ran to her, she hugged her tightly and Meredith hugged her back, and smiled. Maggie came over and hugged her also. She kissed their heads.

Maggie saw the boxes and bag. "You staying?"

Hershel nodded watching them. "She is staying in the guest room."

Beth and Maggie smiled and hugged her and Hershel tightly. They missed them so much, and were upset when they didn't return home when they said they would be.