A/N Many, many thanks for the follows, reviews and the favs - you guys are the best. Well we're off to the dance. Let's see how Merle and Beth do.

He was at her door at 5:30, just as planned. When she opened the door he was taken aback, how could she look even prettier than she did every day? She had on a dress he'd never seen, all soft blues with little flowers, damn, it was tight at her tiny waist with a full skirt. The color really showed off her eyes, and that beautiful hair all put up in some kind of an elaborate French roll. She didn't have her sweater on, instead she had something that looked like ribbons, but was the same as her dress, all tied up fancy around her wrist.

He felt lucky to be the man to escort her to the dance but fuck, he was just gonna be deliverin' her there for another man he couldn't compete with. He tried hard to be a gentleman, gettin' Tommy in the pick-up, helpin' her in, and he did say, "Ya look real pretty tanight Beth, I see ya got yerself a new dress."

"Well thank you Merle, I was able to get this new dress because my landlord makes sure my son and I eat regularly, that meant when I was asked to do some extra sewing and ironing, I was able to use the money I made to buy material and make myself a new dress to wear to a dance that a nice man invited me to, so I guess I have you to thank Mister Dixon," she was angry with him and the words came out in a rush. Why shouldn't she be angry? She'd been so excited to spend this time with him when he'd asked her to the dance, but in the past two weeks he'd seemed cold and distant.

"Well, ya look real nice" he had no idea what else to say.

She was sad because she'd been so sure he cared, and she was angry because even if he didn't care couldn't he at least act friendly toward her? And why did he have to look so handsome? He was wearing high-waisted slacks with a sharp crease down the front, and one of those new loose fit style shirts, long sleeve with drop shoulders and the blue color really set off his eyes. He had on those fashionable new two tone wing tip shoes. She knew the women would be looking at him like a prize. She was sure there had never been a more handsome man. Too bad he didn't feel anything for her.

When they arrived at the Grange Hall in Robinson, Rick, Lori and their children, eight year old Carl and two year old Judith, were all smiles waiting for them. The kids were oblivious, but Rick and Lori could feel the tension in the air.

They made their way inside and fun and festivity were definitely the order of the day. Beth set her potato salad on the table amongst all the other foods. She turned to speak to Merle but he was gone, off in a corner talking to Rick and looking like he was sulking. Why? She was tired of trying to figure it out; she was going to have a nice time in spite of him.

She saw that Tommy, Carl and Judith were having fun with the other children, and Lori was helping some women with the food and punch, when suddenly someone brushed her arm; she looked up to see Zach. "Hi there pretty girl," he said smoothly. "Oh hi Zach, how are you tonight?" she asked politely. He started chatting with her with that big happy grin on his face and all she could think was, "where's Merle? I thought he brought me to this dance."

Rick chided Merle, "what the hell are ya doin' Merle?" he asked the big man, and Merle responded, "What're ya talkin' 'bout Rick?" "Merle, you brought a beautiful woman on a date, and now you're just ignoring her while some other guy is bending her ear. What're just gonna roll over and play dead ya dumbass?"

Merle felt like his blood was boiling in his veins as he was walking toward Beth and Zach, when he reached them Zach said, "Hey Merle, I was just heading over to get me and Beth some punch can I get you a glass?" "Nah, kid" Merle grumbled. Zach just smiled that stupid smile and walked off.

Merle looked at Beth, steel in his eyes, "Do you even know how goddamn jealous I am right now?! I'ma bout ready ta tear that guy's fucking head off," Merle growled. "Merle Dixon how dare you talk to me that way! You watch your language! You've ignored me for two weeks, and then you bring me to a dance and pay no attention to me at all while some other man gives me all of his attention!"

Merle was stunned, "Beth, I thought you liked him, he's been comin' 'round yer place steady for two weeks. I didn't want ta stand in yer way, but damn girl, my heart was hurtin'." "Merle you big, big," she paused, searching for the right word, "you big dummy!" she huffed.

Merle looked at her and damn, she was so sweet, and he had never felt a thrill quite like the thrill the fire in her eyes gave him when she was tryin' to be so harsh with him, and he kept thinking, is that your tough act girl? And he couldn't help himself, he laughed. She stomped her foot, stormed out the door and he quickly followed behind.

Rick and Lori were looking on, and Lori smiled to her husband, "we'll take Tommy home with us tonight. Something tells me they have a lot to talk about." Rick looked at her, cocked his head to the side with a big smile on his face and drew her in for a soft kiss.

In the parking lot Merle faced the fury, "How dare you Merle Dixon! You invite me out, I work my fingers to the bone to make enough money to make a new dress to wear just for you, my first new dress in three years I don't mind telling you, then when we get here you completely ignore me and let some other man plead his case about why I should give him my time! If I was that type of person I would slap you right this minute." Merle couldn't believe it, he had never been so happy, he had no words, so he just put his arms around her and said, "I'm sorry, all I want is my chance with ya Little Darlin'. Let me take ya back on in there, we'll dance, we'll have dinner, whatever ya wanna do, all I wanna do is make ya happy. And I ain't never gonna say those cuss words to ya again, I promise."

Beth just looked at him and thought, "you finally understand Merle Dixon you're the man I want."

They went back in the hall, had some dinner with Rick, Lori and the kids, visited a bit and danced. Merle was a good dancer and taught Beth a few new steps. She was sure every woman in the place was jealous. Merle could not have been more proud than to be seen with the most beautiful woman at the dance, he was sure every man in the joint was green with envy.

Merle saw Zach looking at them forlornly and when there was a break he went over to the lad, "sorry boy, I know she's a peach, but she's my peach, we clear on that?" Zach just nodded.

Lori informed Merle and Beth that she and Rick were taking Tommy home with them, no argument. Rick always let Lori lead the charge with these things, he may be the war hero, but she was the commander in chief. Beth was nervous but Tommy was excited and so she agreed.

Neither Beth nor Merle said much on the way home, but when they pulled in the driveway Merle said, "I'd really like us ta get things out Beth, I got a past, you got a past. Would you agree ta come ta my house and talk a while?" "Okay Merle," she replied, suddenly shy and nervous again.

When they stepped in the house, Merle reached up in the cabinet above the refrigerator and got a bottle down, he poured them each a little in a glass, and then added a bit of lemonade in hers.

"This always helps get a conversation started, " he smiled at her.

"Beth, I need ta feel like ya trust me. You know I care for you and I know ya been hurt bad by sumthin' or someone, I just want to help, to understand. And I think ya know, I ain't a man ta judge ya in any way. I got plenty a my own skeletons," Merle looked at her with concern.

She took a deep breath, "Merle, you and Tommy are the two best things that ever happened to me. I'm sorry I haven't felt like I could tell you but I've been afraid, afraid you'd ask me to leave, afraid you would look down on me, think that everything was my own fault. I couldn't take it if you thought I was bad." She had tears building in her eyes, and all Merle could say was, "I can't imagine anythin' you coulda ever done that'd make me want ya ta leave. I'm the luckiest sumbitch in this world ta have ya here."

So he stood, he stood and he started to remove his shirt, she gasped, what was he doing? "Don't ya worry girl, it ain't what ya think," he said sincerely. She looked at him with those beautiful blue eyes and he said, "all I'ma do is show ya a part a my past." Then he removed his undershirt. She saw them, the horrible strap marks on his chest, he lifted his arms as he slowly turned and showed her his back. She was stunned, he was covered with scars. She knew what that meant, she knew about abuse, "Merle," she whispered as she walked over to him, he quickly put his shirt back on, and she didn't say anything, she just put her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.

"I ain't never showed that to no one but you Beth. Even when I been with a woman, I always kept a shirt on. But you're special to me Beth, and I don't want ta have secrets from ya. I want you ta care for me scars and all, and I want ta care for you no matter your past," he was so somber.

"My daddy was one mean bastard Beth. He beat my mama, me and my baby brother Daryl every time he got drunk, and he got drunk all the time. This ain't all, I got 'em on my ass and the backs a my legs too. I started goin' down the same path as him when I was a teenager, drinkin', fightin' actin' like an asshole. Never hit a woman, and I never will, I seen what my mama went through. But I was definitely up to no good. Best thing that ever happened ta me was gettin' arrested when I's 21, the judge gave me a choice, jail or the Army. For the first time in my life, I made the right choice and went in the Army. It set me in the right direction and gave me a start on a new life," he took a deep breath, put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes, "my life's just missin' one thing Beth." He didn't have to say more, she knew what he meant.

They held each other tightly for what seemed like forever. Neither said anything, they just drew strength from one another. She slowly pulled away and said, "I want to trust you with my story Merle, can we sit?" He nodded and they sat down at the same kitchen table where they'd shared many meals.

"I grew up on a farm in a happy, loving family, my Daddy Hershel, my Mama Annette, my brother Shawn, my sister Maggie and me, I was the baby. I was eight when my daddy died in a farm accident. Two years later my Mama married a man, Joe, he seemed nice enough at first, but when I was 11 Mamma got sick, real sick she died of the cancer. Shawn had gone off and joined the Navy and shipped out to fight the war, Maggie met a boy, Glenn who was visiting from Michigan. She followed him back there and they soon married. That left me and Joe. I hardly went to school after I was 11, first I had to take care of mama and the house and help with the farm chores, and I never went back to school after mama died. One day when I was 14 I was working in the fields hoeing rows when Joes' friend Len approached me," he saw the0 tears in her eyes.

He wanted to tell her to never mind, but something in him knew this had to come out for her, for him, for them. "He forced himself on me and it was very violent and he hurt me in every way a man can hurt a girl. He had his way and then he left. I never saw him again. When it was discovered I was gonna have a child, Joe beat me, beat me bad. He called me some bad names, said I must have tricked his friend, told me I had to get out. A lady in town, Carol was her name, helped me get in a home for unwed mothers. They wanted me to put my baby up for adoption, but I couldn't do it. I was gonna care for my baby if it killed me. Once he was born, I had to leave the home with him. Maybe he would have been better off without me, but I love that little boy and I can't imagine my life without him. I needed to leave where I was, but I didn't have money or anything. I never heard from Joe after he kicked me out, but I did hear he took a loan out on the farm, when he didn't pay it back the bank took it over. Shawn was killed in the Pacific. Maggie tries to send me a dollar or two every month, but with Glenn at college things are tight for them. And I know in my heart Glenn means more to Maggie than I do. I needed to get out of town, too many bad memories and my family was all gone. Carol gave me bus fare and $5.00 and I promised I would pay her back as soon as I could. I haven't been able to pay it all back yet, but I plan to someday soon. I wound up here and I've been doing what I can to support me and Tommy."

She'd been shaking, not as bad as when he first knew her, but he could tell she was a bundle of nerves, her complexion had gone even more pale than usual, and her eyes brimmed with tears. But still, he had to ask, "the scars Beth, on yer wrist?" She took a deep breath, "after what happened with Len, and before I knew about Tommy, I thought the best thing for me was to just die, to join Mama and Daddy and not have any more hurt or trouble."

Merle stood and walked around the table to her, gave her his hand and she stood, he put his arms around her, kissed her on top of the head and said, "You are the strongest, bravest, best person I know. Tommy is lucky ta have ya for his Mama and I'm lucky ta know ya." What he wanted to do was kill this asshole Len and that sumbitch Joe.

They held on for a good long time, and then he said, "Beth, we're being honest with each other here so I gotta tell ya, I been around, I been a bad man in a lotta ways, I smoked some marijuana back before I went in the Army, I done it a lotta times, when it comes ta drinkin', when it comes ta women I done all that and I ain't proud a myself, but I don't do that shit no more and I don't want to, not with you and Tommy here. All I want ta do is make ya proud."

She looked in his eyes and said, "I don't know that Merle from before, I know how you are now, and you're a good man, a hardworking man, a kind man. Maybe we have to try and put all that other stuff away. In the past, where it belongs."

He stared deep into her eyes for a minute or two, then tilted her chin up with his hand, "Beth, I sure would like ta give ya a kiss, but I don't wanna do nuthin' ya don't want, I ain't that way." She turned the deepest shade of red he'd seen and looked straight back at him and said, "I've never kissed a man Merle. Len didn't bother with anything like that. I don't even know if I know how, but I think that I would like to kiss you too."

They both smiled and he took her tenderly into his arms. He gently pressed his lips to hers and put a little pressure there, not too much, just enough to turn the kiss from friendly to serious.

Then it dawned on him and he asked, "how old are ya Beth?" "I'll be 18 in two weeks," she smiled. Ah fuck, she was so young, damn.

A/N Finally, a kiss, but she's so young! Let's see how they handle that. Next up, our boy Merle is doing a lot of serious thinking. Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing.