Three weeks later
There were times when Beth thought Judith was definitely Shane's daughter. Times like tonight, when the baby would go into full blown screaming fit over the littlest things. She could go on for hours too.
Beth was trying to calm the infant down for what felt like the entire night. She knew the sun would be up soon. She fed Judith, changed her, sang to her, walked around with her, fed her again. But nothing seemed to work for long. Their little bundle of joy had her head set on being difficult and not letting Auntie Beth get any rest.
Later on, Beth would think that maybe the baby was just playing a matchmaker that night. She seemed good at that, after all.
" Judy, please... just go to sleep" Beth said softly, as she walked past Merle's cell, cradling the baby in her arms.
Seconds later she heard a raspy voice from behind her.
"Bambi, give 'er here"
"Merle?"
" Ain't like I'm gonna gag her with Daryl's dirty sock" He said shifting a yawn.
The comment made Beth smile a little.
"Don't tempt me" she whispered back and followed the man into his cell. At the time it didn't occur to her that Daryl should've been in that particular cell too. She was just glad that he was... otherwise occupied.
When Merle situated himself on the lower bunk, with his back settled against the wall, Beth handed him Judith.
"Careful, hold her head" She reminded him.
" Relax Angel. Ain't my first babysittin' gig" He actually winked at her.
Beth took a seat next to him and drew her knees up to her chest.
Minutes later, Beth's head was resting on Merle's shoulder and she was dozing off.
And she wasn't the only one. Merle had Lil Asskicker persuaded into taking a nap even befoe he finished telling her that story about Daryl and his pet squirrel.
"Merle?"
The moment he turned his head to look at Beth, he felt her lips pressing against his. Once again, it was a brief and almost chaste kiss but suddenly Merle wasn't feeling like going back to sleep at all.