Afternoon all, i'm really sorry about the late updates but been having problems with my internet again, hopeful it's all sorted out now. maybe in time you will be able to update though the app on the phone, that will make things easier. Anyway that's enough about me, there is your next chapter i have rewrote this one a few times to try and get it get right but it's still a bit short. i'm a bit worried about this one to be fair but nothing is set in stone with it yet. please let me what you think and any ideas you have. thank you to everyone that followed, fav and reviewed it really means a lot to me.

happy reading :)

Chapter 24.

January 23rd

Merle's POV

When Merle and Max got home it was well past midnight, as they pulled up Merle noticed that Carol's car was parked outside.

Well I'll be damned

Merle grinned to himself as he cut out the engine and climbed out of Daryl's truck. He walked over to meet Max who was just climbing out of his car.

"whose car is that?" Max asked

"that be carol's." Merle grinned

"well looks like your plan work boy."

"said it would, Daryl just needed a little push that's all." Merle chuckled.

"still don't think Daryl is going to be to happy with you tho."

"yeah, well Daryl ain't going to be happy about anything we have done today."

Max stared at Merle and arched his eyebrow. "you still think we are doing the right thing?"

"yeah I do." Merle answered. "you know Daryl needs it, he might be a bit pissed at first cuz we went behind his back but that's it."

"your right."

"always am." Merle chuckled as he walked inside.

"yeah sure Merle, you keep thinking that." Max laughed.

Merle stop and turned to face Max, "hey ya know oh Merle is always right."

"keep telling yourself that Merle." Max chuckled, playful nudging Merle as he walked pasted him.

"watch it old man."

"less of the old Merle, I can still run circles around you."

"sure, old man anytime." Merle chuckled.

Merle was sitting drinking a cup of tea at the kitchen table, he had been here since Max went to bed an hour ago, the whole house was quite which left Merle alone with his thoughts, he was glad everything seemed to work out just fine today, he had been worried at first as he wasn't sure when Carol would turn up and he needed her here for his plan to work as otherwise Daryl would of just shut up shop and gone with him which was something that just couldn't happened, Daryl couldn't know what him and Max was up to just yet. If Merle was honest with himself he was a little surprise when Daryl came over to tell him that he was taking Carol to lunch, but it did give him the prefect excuse to shut up and go with Max. Merle knew that Daryl might be a little pissed off with him deserting him today, but it look like everything work out fine if Carol's car outside was anything to go by, so hopeful Daryl would be OK.

All Merle wanted was for his baby brother to be happy as he had been thought enough already which had Merle thinking about the other matter he had to deal with, he knew he had to tell Daryl about it at some point, but first he wanted to do a bit more checking into, as Merle didn't know this woman and definitely didn't trust her for all he knew she might have been lying about even fucking his brother.

Merle shook his head as he remembers the conversation from earlier and how she stormed into the garage demanding that Daryl should treat her a little bit better, and shouting about how dare that woman he was with, speck to her like that.

Merle laughed at her feeling proud of the fact Daryl had finally found himself a good, strong woman like carol. 'what the fuck you laughing about Merle.'

'I'm laughing at ya, ya stupid bitch why don't ya do us all a favor and fuck off.'

'fuck you Merle, you and Daryl both think you can go around treating women like shit, it's no wonder I never told Daryl about his kid.'

Merle stood there shocked at the words leavening her mouth. 'what ya say'

'nothing' she said backing out of the garage.

Merle knew than that she didn't realize what she had said before it was to late. 'what did ya say' Merle snarled at her. She didn't answer him, she turned and ran out of the garage before Merle even had a chance to stop her.

Who the hell did this fucking woman think she was coming in here and saying things like that to old Merle.

Merle really didn't know how Daryl was going to take it all and if this kid was Daryl's than he was going to be pissed at missing out on the kids life so far, fuck even Merle was pissed family meant everything to the Dixon's and they didn't let anyone stand in the way of that.

Fuck Daryl with a kid, this will be interesting.

Merle got up from his seat and made his way upstairs to his room, fuck he was tried it had been one hell of a day. Tomorrow he was going to get to the bottom of this.