A/N Thank you all so much. I love writing this story and it makes me happy that you're enjoying it as well. Thank you so much for your follows, faves and reviews. Let's see what our gang is up to.
When he woke the next morning he couldn't believe she was lying there next to him, he'd thought he must have dreamed that she came to him last night, but here she was. She was still sound asleep and she looked so beautiful, he couldn't resist softy running the tips of his fingers along her cheek and giving her a gentle kiss. That stirred her and she woke up and smiled softly, "good morning Merle." "Good mornin' Lil Darlin', did ya sleep well?" he smiled back. "Oh yes, once I was here with you I fell right to sleep," and her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. "Won't be long darlin', I'll be all healed up and we'll get married, how 'bout two weeks from now, on a Saturday? " he asked. "Oh Merle, that sounds perfect, I nearly have my dress done, and Daryl and Michonne will still be here. But Merle, I want Michonne to be at our wedding, she's been so good to me and Tommy. There's not going to be that many of us, couldn't we all just squeeze into the apartment and get married in there, please?" she looked at him with those big blues eyes and there was no way he was saying "no" to anything she wanted, "that sounds just fine Beth, whatever you want Darlin', I just gotta talk ta Michonne and see if she knows anyone around these parts that could marry us and would keep their yap shut about her bein' here."
Beth said, "I'd better get dressed and start breakfast, I wouldn't want Tommy to see me in your bed when we're not married." There was that blush again, damn, he loved that liked he loved everything else about her.
Merle made his way over to the apartment after breakfast. He wanted to talk to Michonne, but he also needed to talk to Daryl. He wanted to go to the shop and just check on things for himself, reassure the guys and Tara that he was doin' alright and that he'd be back soon. But he also wanted Daryl to take him to the jewelry store. He'd planned on buying her a ring the very day he'd had his accident, he didn't want to wait any longer.
Daryl told Merle he'd drive him over to the shop so he could see that everything was running smooth, and say "HI" to the guys and Tara, but he had to promise not to do anything, not to lift anything, nuthin', and Merle had reluctantly agreed. "Beth'll have my head on a platter if I let anything happen to ya Merle, that little gal loves ya. Jewelry store seems like a good idea." "I tell ya little brother, I'm the luckiest sumbitch in the world, I can't wait ta call that woman my wife," he was beaming.
Then he talked to Michonne, he knew there were plenty of civil rights minded judges and preachers in Georgia who could be discreet, but he had no idea who they were. Michonne told him not to worry, she'd handle it, what time? "Ask Beth, I'm lettin' her make all the decisions bout this weddin'," he smiled. "Well Merle Dixon, you're smarter than I've been giving you credit for," she smiled back. That, of course made Daryl snort out a laugh, and Merle was tryin' not to laugh, he just looked at her and said, "I thought ya was a lawyer not a comedienne."
Beth and Tommy came to her door shortly after the brothers had left. As soon as Beth was in the apartment Michonne wrapped her in a big hug and said, "thank you so much for wanting to include me in your wedding, I can't begin to explain to you how much that means to me." "Michonne you are going to be my sister, and I consider you a best friend, just like Lori. I wouldn't want to get married anywhere where you couldn't be there to help us celebrate. You've helped me and Tommy so much, I could never repay you. I feel so much better about myself now that I'm reading better. I enjoy the books so much too, it's like it opened a whole new world for me."
Michonne's eyes glistened with tears when she replied, "Beth, that makes me feel like I've accomplished something wonderful, I thank you for sharing that with me." Then she asked, "I was going to ask you to do something for me, do you think you could?" "Michonne I'd help you with anything I could."
"Do you think you could sew me a little Negro baby rag doll?" Michonne asked. "Oh that would be easy Michonne, I might even already have the material to do that, leftovers from sewing jobs, who is the little doll for," Beth was so happy to have a chance to do something for her. "I plan to give it to Daryl to let him know he's going to be a Daddy," she smiled broadly.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, that's the most exciting news!" Beth was jumping up and down and clapping her hands.
"It's going to make things quite a bit more complicated for Daryl and I, and I worry about whether the child will be fully accepted by either race, but my maternal instinct has already taken over and I am thrilled."
As soon as her and Tommys lesson was over, Beth went right back to the house and began work on the doll, she wanted to get it done as quickly as possible, she couldn't wait for Daryl to find out the news. And Tommy was going to have a cousin, and she and Merle were going to be an Aunt and Uncle. She didn't really understand all the complications of a mixed race birth in 1947, but she believed that love conquered all.
She also called Lori and told her about the wedding plans, and asked her if she could possibly give her a ride to town the next day. She wanted to go to the post office and see if she had a letter from her sister or Carol, and she also wanted to get some material to make Michonne a maternity top for a surprise gift. Lori was always agreeable about going to town. She loved to just walk around the general store, pick things up, look at them, and put them back. Beth was certain she'd touched everything in the store at least once.
The doll really required no great sewing skill, and it was small, so she was able to complete it while Tommy napped. She put a little triangle folded diaper on it she pinned it in the middle with a safety pin. She used the fountain pen with black India ink to make its smiling face with oversize eyes. She was happy with her work and could hardly wait to take it to Michonne.
As soon as Tommy woke they went back to the apartment. When Michonne saw the little doll she squeezed Beth in a tight hug and said, "this is absolutely perfect Beth! I can't wait to give this to Daryl."
Michonne told her she'd made a cake for dessert, and Beth was going to go home and began preparing the family's evening meal. Michonne asked if Tommy could stay and keep her company and maybe they'd read a book together, or draw some pictures. Beth smiled and thanked the woman for being so sweet with Tommy. She smiled and responded, "I love him Beth, and this is good practice."
Merle came in, kissed her on the cheek and sat at the kitchen table while she worked. "How did you do today Merle, you must be tired." "I do feel like I put in a long day, sure don't take long to get outta practice," but he didn't seem upset, quite the contrary he seemed quite pleased with himself.
"I wanna talk to ya 'bout a couple things Darlin'," he began. "Okay Merle." "First thing is, and I don't put my foot down with ya often, ya know I don't, but I'm firm with ya on this, it's been botherin' me for some time now. I don't want ya workin' so hard. Ya got yer hands full takin' care a Tommy, me and this house. Yer gonna be my wife, ya ain't gonna need that money, ya need money, ya get it from me. I want ya to quit all that ironing and cleaning for other folks."
"I don't want to go against you, but are you sure Merle? Because I don't mind workin' and payin' my share," she said. "No Darlin', I told ya before, it's my job ta provide for you and Tommy. I don't want people thinkin' I'm a man can't take care a his own family. 'Sides, like I said, I don't want ya ta have ta work so hard, don't feel right ta me."
"Okay, you're to be my husband and you're in charge, so I won't argue with you, but can I ask if it's okay, can I still do the dressmaking and can I still do Lori's mending for her? I enjoy the dressmaking and Lori is my friend," she asked softly. "Sure Darlin', if ya like it and it makes ya happy then that's fine, unless I notice ya startin' ta seem too burdened down," he smiled at her sweet face.
"Thank you Merle, what's the other thing you wanted to talk to me about," she asked. He looked her in the eye and his voice had a serious tone, "This is your decision Darlin', but it's something's been on my mind for a while now. I'd feel proud and honored if Tommy was ta call me Daddy. How do ya feel 'bout that?" Tears filled her eyes as she walked over to him, put her arms around his neck and kissed him, "Thank you Merle, this makes me so happy, you just have no idea. I love you so much." "Done then, the day we get married he becomes Thomas Dixon," Merle's grin seemed to cover his whole face.
They took the dishes of food down to the apartment, Daryl was outside working in the garden and when he saw them go in, he wasn't far behind. As was his way, he walked straight to Michonne, put an arm around her and said, "Missed ya woman." And she just smiled back.
Beth had made a stew and home baked bread. The conversation flowed easily among the group as everyone talked about their day and the wedding plan. Daryl was touched that Michonne would get to be present. He was to be best man and Michonne was to be matron of honor. The wedding would be at noon and everyone would have lunch and cake afterward.
Once they'd finished the stew and bread Michonne served everyone a slice of cake, chocolate with white frosting. Before she sat she retrieved a bundle from the bedroom, it looked like a towel wrapped around something. She said, "I thought the dark and white cake was the perfect blend, just like you and I Daryl. I'm going to give this to you now, but in seven months, I'm going to give you the real thing," and with that she handed him the bundle. He looked confused, he opened it, looked at the baby for a minute, looked at her and she nodded. He fell to his knees in front of her, put his arms around her waist and kissed her stomach. "I love ya woman." She ran a hand through his hair, "I love you too Daryl," she smiled.
Merle clapped loudly and said, "Why that's great news right there, you two are finally makin' me an uncle, it took ya long enough baby brother." Daryl just looked at him with a half grin and said, "shut up Merle."
That night, about midnight, he felt her crawl back into bed with him, "Hey Lil Darlin', couldn't sleep?" "Not without you Merle," she responded. "Well I think I'm more than healed up enough for ya ta lay yer head here on my shoulder." And he lifted his arm so she could scoot right over next to him, and then he wrapped the arm around her. "There ya go Darlin', that's real nice. I love ya Beth." "I love you too Merle." And so they slept.
A/N Baby Dixon, Woot! And a Tommy Dixon too! Our brothers are getting down right domesticated. Let's have a wedding next chapter, Yay!