A/N Thank you all so much. I know we've had a couple of very hard chapters and I appreciate you hanging in. This chapter transitions us forward as we move ahead six months, but we're also catching up on how life and situations have progressed during that time. As you'll recall things had gotten better with Beth's parents, they were allowing our couple more freedom. But all was not forgive and Daryl and Beth had made some kind of plans of their own. I hope you enjoy.

ooo00ooo

Six Months Later

It's amazing how many things can change in such a very short period of time.

And it seemed just about everything in his life had changed, except for him and Beth. They were still solid, still in love. Now more than ever. They had their plan and neither of them had a single thought of changing it.

But a lot of other things were different, very different.

He'd be turning 18 in a couple of weeks, and in just four and a half months he'd be done with school. He'd have a high school diploma and that was important to him, mostly because he knew how important it was to her. It always gave him a real special feeling when she'd say, "I'm so proud of you Daryl." So he'd worked harder than ever this school year, for her and for him, and for the future they planned.

It's pretty tough keeping a secret in a small town and the story of Daryl's beating had been big news, it had spread quickly. Things at school were much different. It had shocked many when they learned the truth about the guy most of the students, and plenty of the teachers, thought was a hood. The guy who they thought did nothing but fight and raise hell. Now they knew that guy was really having the shit beat out of him on the regular, and by his own father. Attitudes toward Daryl Dixon had quickly changed.

He saw some of them look at him with pity and he hated that shit. He didn't want anyone's pity. Mostly he still just preferred they leave him alone. They'd never been his friends before so why start being his friend now? Because they felt sorry for him? Yeah he didn't think that was any kind of good reason. But he didn't give attitude he just did what he'd always done, he tried to remain kind of inconspicuous and do what he had to do. He was just waiting to turn 18 and graduate and really start his life.

For their part most of the other students got it, they caught on. They just started treating him like he was anyone else. Nodding their head his way in the hall, or saying "hey" to him as they filed into homeroom class. So yeah, it was all different, but in a lot of ways it was the same.

He hadn't wanted to do it, he'd argued vehemently but Mr. Mamet wouldn't budge. The principal said it was important and that Daryl needed the counseling. It was Beth who finally got him to agree. She'd told him it would be a good thing, and she'd also told him she thought it was important for them. And she put her arms around him and asked him to please do it. So even though he'd always thought it was enough for him just to talk to her, tell her how he felt, he'd agreed. At the time he did truly think he was doing it just to make her happy.

But he told the principal he couldn't go to counseling after school like they wanted, because he couldn't miss work. He needed his job. They'd accommodated him and so now instead of health class, Daryl had counseling every single day for 50 minutes.

It turned out that counseling did give him a different perspective on things. He'd started to understand that all of those things that had been done to him over the years weren't his fault. He wasn't the one responsible for the abuse and neglect he'd suffered. He only discussed what went on in counseling and how he felt about it with Beth. And it turned out he was glad to be going, in his heart he knew he needed it. He noticed it, he could tell, he was feeling a lot better about himself. And now he understood he wasn't doing this for just for her. He was doing it for himself and for her because he wanted to be a better man, a whole man, a good man to her.

As always, Daryl Dixon took on a lot of responsibility for a young man.

One of Daryl's best days ever had come four months earlier. That's when Merle was released from prison. His brother had finally come home. And Merle had done just like his parole officer told him, he'd moved in the halfway house and he'd kept his nose and his veins clean.

Daryl noticed several changes in his brother, he could see it in the way he behaved, how he seemed to take a little more time to think before he spoke or reacted, and how he worked hard at controlling his anger and his actions. And all of it was Merle's decision, it was what he wanted. He wanted to be on the straight and narrow. He'd even told his younger brother he wanted to be a man that Daryl was proud to call "brother."

It wasn't easy for Merle to walk that line but he was determined he could and he would do it.

Mr. Horvath had been a big help, he'd talked a businessman he knew into taking a chance on Merle, giving him a job. It wasn't much but it was a start, and Merle was grateful someone was willing to gamble on him.

Merle was now working at a big warehouse building owned by an Internet marketer, and used as a shipping center. He worked the midnight shift doing custodial chores and acting as a night watchman. The deal was if he stayed clean, kept his hours and worked hard, after six months he'd move to shipping and receiving. That would mean he'd move to the day shift and get much better wages.

When Merle was finally allowed to move out of the halfway house and get his own place, Daryl had been disappointed and angry with him. He'd thought they were going to live together, but Merle had a new reality, and a new maturity, and with it came a different idea. He explained to the young man, "I love ya Daryl, you're my baby brother. That's why I want ya ta stay where ya are. The Horvath's are good people an they can care for ya better'n I can. I need ta get my own shit together kid. I need ta figure this new life out. I want ya ta have a proper home. I'll still see ya every day anytime ya want. I'm just tryin' ta do what's best here brother, I ain't doin' it for me cuz I do want ya with me, I'm doin' what's best for you."

As much anger as Daryl felt at the time, the more he thought about it the more he realized Merle really was doing the right thing by him, and his brother had a point. The Horvath's were good people and Daryl was happy there. They didn't ask much of him and their home was cozy. He thought if he had grandparents they'd be like these folks. Mrs. Horvath even let him use her old Chevy to take Beth out, all he had to do was pay for his own gas and promise never to drink and drive. And he and Merle did see each other every day, at least for coffee in the morning or a coke in the evening. So yeah, it was all good.

And besides it wouldn't be long now he'd be getting his own place, it was part of their plan.

Three months after Daryl's last beating at the hands of his father, the beating he'd thought at the time would surely kill him, he was told he had to testify. The trial was set to start in just one week, and it seemed everyone he knew was on the witness list, from his kindergarten teacher to Beth. As much as he wanted his Dad to go to jail, and hopefully stay there forever, he was dreading this trial.

He didn't want to have to even look at the man, not ever or under any circumstance. It went beyond the fear, because it was true he still feared the man. But it was also just like a lot of things with Daryl, this embarrassed him, he wasn't sure why that was, but it did. It was humiliating. He'd talked to the counselor about it a lot. The man told him it was still those old feelings that he was somehow responsible for what had happened to him. He kept assuring Daryl that telling the truth and seeing justice done would be like a cleansing for him.

But that didn't make it any less overwhelming. If it wasn't for Beth he probably would have just run, left town altogether, anything to avoid it. But he couldn't leave her and he couldn't very well ask her to up and leave. To go where and to do what? No, he knew he had to do this.

Merle came by to see him after work one morning; they'd planned to have coffee together before Daryl went to school. "What's got ya so shook up little brother? I can always tell when sumthin's botherin' ya, yer chewin' on that lip." The older man could see the young man was fighting with himself, his hands were shaking and he was fidgety as hell.

"I'm just dreadin' it Merle, the testifyin' an all. I don't wanna have ta see him, I don't want Beth ta have ta sit up there in front a him. I know I gotta do it brother, just like ya said, I just don't wanna. I still got bruises that ain't even healed yet. Shit Merle ya seen my back, ya seen it's all fucked up an it ain't ever gonna look okay. But I know you're right an I know I gotta do this."

Merle swallowed hard. For what seemed to him to be no less than the millionth time in his life, he wanted to see that bastard dead. He didn't want his little brother to have to go through this, or that sweet young girl Daryl was so crazy about. But he didn't say any of that. "Now ya know little brother I'ma be there with ya every day a that trial. Ya ain't gotta look at him an Beth ain't gotta look at him. Y'all look at me. Ya think about that time he nearly killed me. I done the wrong thing kid, I run off an got myself in a world a trouble an hurt. You're tougher'n me son, ya always have been. Ya got this dicked, I know ya do. Ya hear me?"

"Yeah I do, thanks Brother." He didn't sound convincing and Merle knew he was still scared and still hurting.

All the trial preparation and all the worry, and all the talking, none of that mattered. Not when two days later Will Dixon was killed in the exercise yard of the county jail. They suspected another inmate was guilty of the crime, and that the knife that was used might have been sneaked in by an outside accomplice. But they never did solve it. The truth was no one really worked that hard to solve it. Most every law enforcement agent in the county was glad to see Will Dixon dead.

Merle's only disappointment was he didn't get to kill the bastard himself.

ooo00ooo

Daryl had been real nervous about Merle meeting Beth. He knew the way Merle talked to and about women, and he still said plenty of off color stuff all the time. So before he introduced them he gathered up every bit of courage he had and told him, "Brother ya know Beth is my girl an she's real important ta me. Ya gotta treat her nice an show respect. She's a good girl Merle."

Merle smiled that huge smile and clapped his brother on the back, "I know kid, I ain't gonna be nuthin' but nice ta your girl. I know ya got that lovin' feelin' little brother. If she's special ta you she's special ta me."

Beth was scared just at the thought of meeting Merle Dixon. She'd heard stories about him and just knowing he'd spent six years in prison made him frightening to her. But he was Trouble's brother and Trouble loved him, so she was determined she would give him every chance. And then she saw him. He seemed so much older than Daryl and he was definitely a lot rougher looking. And unlike Daryl he was so loud and talkative and he seemed to smile all the time.

But after spending just one Saturday afternoon fishing with Merle and Daryl, she found she felt comfortable with Trouble's big brother. There was a lot of bluster to Merle Dixon, and there was no denying he looked and sounded so rough. But she could see clearly that just like Daryl was so protective of her, Merle was protective of him. It made her feel happy to know someone was watching out for Trouble.

They'd continued to see lunch break as their special time each weekday. They'd sit and eat, talk, and then he'd lay her down and they'd kiss and cuddle, and they'd talk about their plan.

It was a simple plan really, but one they didn't expect anyone but them to think was a good idea. Of course they no longer cared what anyone else thought, they were going to do what would bring them happiness. Everyone else would just have to learn to live with it. "You don't think we're making a mistake do you Trouble?"

"Ya havin' second thoughts Sunshine? I ain't, but if ya are ya should tell me now." He may have a little more self-confidence than he'd had in the past, but he still had plenty of doubts and he always expected the worst. It had been schooled into him for a very long time.

"Now Trouble you know better, I think I've wanted to marry you since the very first time I saw you. But you'll be the one with the whole burden at first."

"Ain't a burden, it's what I want. Ya know I can't wait Sunshine, an I'ma take good care a ya, ya know I will. But I think your Mama an Daddy are gonna be wantin' ta kill us both. I feel bad 'bout your Mama, she's a real special lady."

The situation with Beth's family had remained tense. He was polite to her Father, but his attitude toward the man was changed, the friendliness that had developed between them seemed lost forever.

He would still come see Beth in the evenings but it was after dinner with the Horvaths. He no longer cared to enter the Greene home, and he certainly had no intentions of ever eating Hershel Greene's food again. He'd told Beth right after he was released from the hospital, "Tell your Mama she's always been real sweet ta me an I always have appreciated it a lot, but when school starts up again I don't want her packin' me a lunch no more. I ain't gonna eat it. Now that I know how your Daddy feels I just can't Beth, I'm sorry."

So he would come by the farm in the evening and they'd sit on the grass near the end of the driveway, or take a walk down by the water, or if he had Mrs. Horvath's Chevy they'd take a little ride. He'd visit with her an hour or so and then be on his way.

Their whole routine had changed. On the weekends he'd pick her up and they'd go to the only place they cared to go, their spot. Saturday evenings Mr. and Mrs. Horvath would have supper for Daryl and Merle and Beth. Dale and Erma loved the feel of having family around and everyone always seemed to have a pleasant time.

Still there was that undercurrent, that tension of family discord. Beth wished that somehow Trouble could see his way clear to at least talk to her Daddy. She knew he was hurt but she was also aware how badly her Daddy was hurting and so was her Mama. She knew her father had been wrong to say the things he'd said to Daryl, but she understood now he didn't mean them. She knew how filled with regret he was. Everything was just so messed up.

But Beth didn't push Daryl, she just asked him if he could try and see his way clear to talk to her Daddy. Maybe if they would talk Trouble could maybe, just maybe find a way to forgive him. "It ain't that I don't like your Dad Sunshine, I always have admired him an I tried so hard ta do things the way he wanted. But shit it just hurt an I ain't been able ta forget it. I'm tryin' though and maybe someday I can."

Trouble had told his brother the whole story leading up to his final beating. Merle was real angry when he heard the words Beth's Daddy had said to his brother. But he knew he had to be careful about reacting, that had gotten him in trouble his whole life. So first he stewed on it for a long time, then he decided to go have a talk with Hershel Greene himself.

The minute Hershel opened the door he knew who it was. He hadn't seen Merle Dixon in years, not since he was a teenager. He'd aged hard, he looked older than his years and he looked rough. Not just in the sense he looked like a tough guy, it was that you could tell just by looking at him he'd lived a real hard life.

"You're Hershel Greene ain't ya?"

"Yes sir I am and you're Merle Dixon, correct?"

"Yeah that's right. I'm wonderin' can we have us a talk?"

Mama came over then, "Hello Merle I'm Annette Greene, Beth's Mother. I'm so pleased to finally meet you and I'm so glad you're home. I know how much Daryl missed you. Please come in and have a glass of sweet tea with us."

It was just that simple, whatever had happened with Beth's Daddy, Merle was taken by Mama and her sweet nature, "Yes Ma'am I'd be pleased ta."

"Have you eaten? I could make you something real quick."

Yep Merle was thinking; she was a real woman of the south. "Thank ya Ma'am that's real kind but I ate 'fore I came."

Still when Mama brought that tea she also brought a plate of cookies. "I'll leave you two to talk. Please when you see Daryl give him my best and let him know I miss having him around."

"Yes Ma'am I surely will an thank ya again for the tea an cookies." Merle had come ready ta have a full on war with Hershel Greene. Not a physical fight, but to give the man a righteous tongue lashing for mistreating his little brother. But Annette Greene had soothed the beast within Merle Dixon, and he was ready to speak calmly and even to listen.

"I'ma just ask ya a question Greene an I appreciate if ya tell me the truth. I ain't gonna hold nuthin' against ya, I just wanna know. Ya see, I happen ta think my little brother's a fine man. I don't know a better one. I don't know no one who could beat the odds how he has. He'll be the first Dixon ever graduated high school. He's been workin' at one kinda job or another since he's eight years old. Been workin' that machine shop since he's fourteen. He speaks highly a your daughter, treats her right. Shit he even warned me I better show her respect. So I think that he's a man a man like you would be proud ta have callin' on his girl. So ya tell me, what the fuck? What ya got against the kid that you'd pretty much tell him he ain't no good for nuthin'?"

Hershel didn't try to pretend he hadn't said what he'd said. He sighed deeply, slowly shaking his head side to side, "We all have regrets Merle and what I said to Daryl is one of my biggest. I have so much respect for your brother, I admire him and all of his accomplishments. There are no excuses, all I can tell you is I'd been up all night sick with worry for both my daughter and for Daryl. I lashed out. It was wrong and he paid a terrible price. I've paid a price too but I know it's nothing compared to his. I've missed having him around so much, I never thought I would, but it's true. My wife misses him like she'd miss any of her kids. It's been hard on all of us. There's not an hour in any day that I don't think about it and wish I could take it all back."

Merle simply nodded, "I get ya. I got my own lifetime a regrets. My little brother, he's always been the sweet one. He's got a tender heart an he's had trouble gettin' over his hurt. Me I'da done it much different, I'da hollered right back at ya an we won't even talk about what I mighta said. Ya never know though, he could come around. He loves your daughter an she's a part a ya. He loves your wife like the Mama he never had. So yeah, we'll see. I appreciate ya havin' me in your home an talkin' ta me." And just that fast he stood to go.

"Thank you for coming Merle, you and Daryl are both welcome any time."

Beth's Mama was at the door and she told him, "There's always room at my table Merle, I hope you'll come see us again, and please try to get Daryl to come too."

"I will Ma'am an thank ya."

Merle had never been able to give his brother anything and he still hadn't it. Maybe he could try and help with this.

It didn't take an army, it didn't even take a village, it just took three people who cared for Daryl and cared for Beth, and cared for Hershel Greene. Three people that wanted to try and make the situation right. Because they knew, as long as there was this fissure between Hershel Greene and Daryl Dixon there would never really be happiness for anyone.

Mama had called Mrs. Horvath and they'd talked at great length. Just two days later, on a Tuesday morning when Merle stopped for coffee with his brother, Erma Horvath asked him if he could stay awhile after Daryl went to school, she said she needed some help.

As soon as Daryl left she told Merle about her conversation with Annette Greene. There were two women Merle Dixon respected and admired, Erma Horvath and Annette Greene, he agreed to participate.

Erma didn't bother asking her husband, she just told him that Wednesday afternoon she and Annette Greene and Merle Dixon would all be showing up at his office, and he'd be calling Daryl in. They'd take it from there.

His wife never asked for much and so Dale just shrugged, "Alright."

Daryl was his usual anxious self when Dale told him he wanted to see him in his office. His logical mind probably knew that he wasn't about to be fired. He knew his boss was happy with his work, and he lived with the man, surely he'd know if the man was angry with him. But still, with his customary case of the nerves he walked in Dale Horvath's office.

He was caught completely off guard, shocked by the group assembled in that office. Beth's Mama, Erma Horvath and his own brother. It was his brother that looked at him, with his own version of the Dixon squint, and he spoke, "Ya know how many times in my life I said the wrong thing cuz I's angry, or drunk, or on the junk, or just plain feelin' on the fight? I don't cuz know on accounta I can't count that high. I said plenty a mean things ta you little brother, ain't I? Things I shouldn't a said, things I didin't mean, things I regret sayin'. But you're a better man than me an ya always did forgive me. That's cuz we're family, we work it out. We cuss, we fight, we make up an we go on an we try not ta do that no more. But it happens, cuz we're people an we react ta other people an what they say an do."

"Me? I think Hershel Greene's a fine man, a hardworkin' man like you. Ya got sumthin' real big in common with the man, ya both love that sweet little Beth. So now, don't it seem you're family with him? Ya tell me Beth's the one for ya, your girl. Ya told me ya love her. That makes Hershel Greene your family son. Ya gotta find it in your heart ta get passed this, ta come ta terms. Ya do that for that little gal ya love."

Annette and Erma had tears in their eyes listening to that gruff, unpolished man speak a very plain and simple truth to his brother. They had nothing to add, Mama just squeezed his hand and said, "Please try Daryl, please."

Erma put a hand on his shoulder, "It's for the best son it truly is. There's peace in forgiveness."

Daryl had not spoken a word, he was overwhelmed and didn't know what to say. They all understood that and when those ladies left Merle clapped his brother on the back and told him, "Time ta lick your wounds kid an move on, now get your ass back ta work."

After dinner Mrs. Horvath let him use her car and he drove out to the farm. This night he didn't just wait outside for Beth, he went to the door and rang the bell. Hershel answered and Daryl asked, "Can we talk?"

Her Daddy nodded, "I'd like that very much son, let's go in my office."

They did come to terms, and they did mend their fences, but that didn't alter the plan Trouble and Sunshine had in place. They had every intention of following that plan.

ooo00ooo

A/N We traveled a lot of territory and next chapter we get to focus more on our couple and their plan. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'd appreciate if you leave a comment / review. Thanks so much! x gneebee

There's a hot little chapter photo posted to my tumblr blog bethylmethbrick I hope you'll check it out. I'd also appreciate it if you had a look at my newest Bethyl, One Cold Night. I'll see you next Saturday for more Trouble in Mind. Thank you all again and remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee