A/N Thank you all! Lots of things happening this chapter...

Old Friends

No one would have expected Merle to come up with something so sweet and so romantic, including him. He surprised himself. The truth is, even as recently as a few months ago it wouldn't have happened, but Merle's a different man now.

He's always been a survivor, shit, he's survived a childhood of poverty, abuse, and later, his own drug addiction. He survived prison life a couple of different times and came out virtually unscathed. This is a new kind of survival story though. His reasons to live are different now, and so are his ideas about what survival means. He wants there to be a lot more to it than just managing to stay alive. He wants to have a life. A good life. He wants to share that life with Frankie, making sure she's happy too. He wants to be a Daddy, a good Daddy. He wants to be a good brother to Daryl and to Beth. He wants every day of however many days he has, to matter.

Merle is self-aware enough to know he'll never lose all of his sharp edges, not completely, but he's been smoothing quite a few of them out.

He wasn't going to just copy what Daryl did and use a spoon to make Frankie's ring. Nah, hers had to be different. This ring had to be one that came from him, from his heart. So, he did a lot of thinking about how he could do this right. He looked around for ideas on the property and in the tool shed, he looked in their small home. It was there the idea occurred to him. The constant in their life is wood. They use it to build, to stay warm, to heat their food, and when he wanted to make her a gift for Christmas, he used it to make her a footstool. He'll be using it again to build their baby's cradle.

The first thing to do was find the strongest piece of wood, and it had to have a real nice grain to it. From that he would fashion the ring. He wished he had a nice little wood lathe, but hell, he had plenty of hand tools and they'd work. He thought the hardest part would be figuring out her size, but luck was with him. It turned out to be easy when that night she fell asleep in her chair after dinner. He smiled as he used a string to measure her finger. Easy as pie. He was cutting out the blank for Frankie's ring when the thought came to him, what the hell, he ought to have one for himself too. Even doing it all by hand it didn't take him long. He sanded the finish on the rings until it was smooth as silk, then gave them several coats of tung oil. They shone and they were plenty sturdy, and that grain looked beautiful. Merle couldn't recall ever having felt more proud of anything he'd made with his hands. Maybe it was all the heart that went into his work.

He had her ring in his hand that night when he walked in their little home. Frankie was at the sink with a kettle of warm water, washing her hands before starting on their dinner. She didn't turn around, in a cheery voice she simply said, "Hey Merle."

He smiled as he touched her shoulder and said, "Turn around and give your man a kiss."

She smiled thinking, this man, he's something, as she wiped her hands on her apron and turned to him. He didn't kiss her though, instead he reached down and took her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of it. Then, as she smiled at the gesture, he slipped the ring on her finger asking, "Will ya take me for your husband?"

She let out a small gasp and tears sparkled in her eyes when she said, "I will."

Merle was smiling ear to ear as he reached in his pocket and took out his ring, handing it to her. She took his hand, slipped the ring on his finger and asked, "Will you take me for your wife?"

"I will."

She saw then her husband had tears dancing in his eyes too. They kissed and he picked her up in his arms and carried her to their bed, and dinner was going to have to wait a while.

00

One Week Later

Merle's determined and Beth isn't going to fight him on it any longer, "You do what you want Merle. You get back to work and don't worry about a thing, but I swear if you re-injure yourself I will never stop saying I told you so."

He smiles in the sweetest way he knows how, "Yes ma'am. I'll be careful, and thanks for takin' such good care of me Sis."

With that, the brothers get the wood stove moved into Merle and Frankie's bathroom. It takes them the day to get it properly installed and to install the basin. Although there's no water yet to run to the sink, they'll be able to haul water in and warm it on the back of the stove, just like Beth and Daryl do.

As they work, the brothers talk and finalize their plan. It's a massive undertaking for two men and one small woman, but they're sure it's the way to go and they're determined to make it happen.

While Merle and Daryl are busy working on the bathroom, Beth and Frankie are just as busy making diapers and receiving blankets. Beth tells her, "It's just a matter of making your stitches nice and tight so the fabric doesn't fray. Only God knows how many babies are going to need to use these diapers."

"Oh my gawd Beth, you're right. I hadn't even thought about that," then Frankie can't help asking a question she's asked before, "Are you…"

Beth smiles, "No, I don't think so. Still not yet. Daryl's as careful as he knows how to be, you know, considering there's no drugstore down the street."

The women smile and Frankie says what's on both their minds, "It's kind of a miracle nothing's happened yet, but you know it will."

Beth's wistful reply is, "I won't mind at all. I've always wanted to be a mom."

"You'll be a great one, I've learned so much from you myself, and Beth Dixon, you are the kindest woman I've ever known."

That Night

Daryl and Beth are looking at the drawing he made and Beth has to ask, "I don't want to question your judgement Daryl, but do you really think all of this is necessary?"

He's chewing his lip as he thinks about her question, "Maybe it wouldn't be if there was more of us. We could have 24 hour a day lookouts and stuff. But there's just the four of us, and Frankie ain't in no condition ta be climbin' up somewhere ta be a lookout, so yeah, I dunno what else to do."

She nods her head, what he says does make sense. "Okay."

He stands and walks behind her chair, resting his hands on her shoulders as he bends and kisses her hair, "I'm sorry I can't keep ya safer. When I was thinkin' a movin' up here I thought no one would ever come up this high for any reason. Shit, the old man had moonshine and no one came for him, not even the government. This world though, shit, everythin's changed. Negan and these other fellas showed me people are gonna come for us, they're gonna make it up the mountain."

"Well maybe it was just them Daryl."

"Maybe, but I can't take that chance."

It's heartbreaking to think they can't be safe all the way up here, but she's not going to let on to Daryl she's sad. He takes on enough guilt. This isn't his fault, "Okay, well I'm ready to do my part."

"A'ight. We're gonna need about a gillion a them punji sticks. I figured that'll be a good job for you cuz you could be inside here where it's warm. All ya gotta do is whittle one end to a sharp point, and I can help ya get the feel for how ta do that."

"All right."

"I'm sorry lady."

"Please don't apologize to me again Daryl. If it wasn't for you I'd already be dead."

She wears two pair of the garden gloves to keep her hands from blistering and drying, and to save herself from getting splinters. Once she's whittled several of the sticks she gets a rhythm going and the work is both easier and faster. She's keeping the shavings in a basket, collecting it for fire starters.

While Beth is busy making the punji sticks, Frankie's busy doing the same thing at her house, and the men are busy working on the greenhouse. Safety is critical, but so is food. They can't survive without both and they're putting a lot of work, energy and hope into the greenhouse.

For three solid weeks they work. It's at two weeks Daryl calls, "Enough" on the punji sticks, they've made so many. Now Beth goes to work making bows, not for hunting, but for booby traps, and Frankie begins making arrows for the traps. Meanwhile the men nearly have everything complete for the greenhouse, and Daryl begins to help with the bows.

It's the beginning of that third week and Daryl's routinely checking the coops and the fencing for the pen when he feels it right to his bones, the temperature just dropped at least 15 degrees. The air is frigid, and it seems almost hard. It's like hitting a wall of cold with every step. The sky is deep gray and Jack seems nervous, he keeps pacing and looking up at his human for direction. It's coming, there's no doubting it, and Daryl moves into action.

He tells the family, "There's a blizzard comin'. Merle, ya get you and Frankie moved into our place. If ya got any food ya wanna bring, bring it and plenty a blankets. Then start haulin' in firewood, all ya can. I'ma take care a the animals and get the three wheeler moved right outside the door, and the shovels right inside."

No one bothers to question Daryl, they all believe he has a sense about these things. If he says there's a blizzard coming, there's a blizzard coming. And although there's really no reason Merle and Frankie have to move in with Daryl and Beth for the duration of the storm, it seems smarter and safer if they're all together. Besides, that's the way they all prefer it.

Beth isn't going to just sit back while Daryl and Merle prepare for the storm that's coming. She tells her husband, "I'll take care of the animals, you take care of the ATV and help Merle move the bed. Then we'll get some wood stacked."

Within an hour they're done with the first of the chores, now everyone is busy stacking wood close to the both stoves. They bring in as much as they can get in the small cabin. Then they stack more just outside the door.

Daryl and Merle carry the metal tub that's been the family refrigerator to within a few feet of the front door as well. It will still be outside where the food stays semi frozen, and close enough to get to. The brothers have just set it down when the snow begins to fall at a pace none of them have ever seen. Within fifteen minutes of it starting they've already lost sight of the outside kitchen, it's buried. The wood pile looks like a white mountain.

Daryl's shaking his head, "Shit, this is gonna bury us for a while."

Merle nods, "At least I can help this time. In fact, I'ma go out and start shovelin' right now. We gotta try'n keep on top of it. If we don't keep the snow away from the front door we might really get trapped."

Daryl joins him and they shovel a nice clearing in front of the cabin, but they know it won't hold. The snow is falling too fast and too heavy, they'll just have to keep coming out and doing the same thing, over and over. They make a pathway to the wood, and one to the refrigerator, but soon they find themselves in a total white out. Daryl can't see a thing except bright white when he calls to his brother, "Merle, c'mon, we gotta get inside."

Merle's disoriented and he calls back, "I can't see nuthin'. Which way?"

Daryl shouts, "Okay, I heard ya. Stay right where ya are, I'm comin'." He gets to his brother, takes his hand and says, "C'mon, hurry now," and he doesn't let go of Merle's hand until they've reached the door.

Beth has a hearty soup waiting for them once they're out of their wet gear. They huddle in front of the fire eating the soup, not just to quell their hunger, but in hopes it will warm them. Beth drapes blankets across their shoulders, and after another ten minutes or so, they finally feel like they're defrosted.

Daryl makes a small joke, "I think it's safe ta say, ain't no one comin' after us today, they'd never even see us."

The women smile but Merle looks so serious when he tells his brother, "I never thought I'd hold hands with another man, but ya saved my life out there brother. I'da froze ta death before I ever found my way ta the door."

Daryl's not one for receiving praise and he simply shrugs a shoulder while biting his lip and staring into the fire.

They couldn't bring all of their work in, they didn't want to sacrifice space that could be used for firewood. Still they manage to keep themselves busy the rest of the afternoon. Daryl shows Frankie how to fletch arrows and she catches right on. Merle's carving wooden arrowheads, and when they can get back in the tool shed Daryl will give them metal tips. Beth has kept herself busy making food and piecing together fabric for a baby quilt, and Daryl is stringing bows and helping with the arrowheads. There's all those things, plus it seems like the fires always need stoking.

When Jack has to go out Daryl does something he's never done while they've lived on the mountain. He gets Jack's old collar and leash that have been hanging by the back door unused. He puts them on the dog and Jack looks a little confused, Daryl tells him, "I ain't takin' a chance of losin' ya boy, not only that, you're gonna have ta do your business right next ta the house, it's cold and impossible ta see out there." Jack has no more desire to be outside than Daryl does, and they're out less than five minutes. That's enough time for them both to feel chilled to the bone.

Jack hurries to his bed in front of the fire, and Daryl's right behind him holding his hands as close as possible to the woodstove, without getting burned.

More soup is served for dinner, and they follow that with a couple hands of Gin and a little moonshine for Daryl and Merle. By seven they're all ready to turn in, this has been a long day.

It's dark as pitch when Daryl and Beth crawl under the covers. It's not the kind of privacy he'd like to have with her right now, but dammit, he can't resist draping his arm across her waist and pulling her slim body close to his. He snuggles his face into her neck, and she reaches her hand back to caress his cheek. They do their best to keep it quiet as they tease and fondle each other, and they're both wondering how long they can play this way before it's no longer playing, and they're no longer quiet. When they hear Merle's soft snoring it's like they've gotten the green light, but still they do their best to keep it as quiet as they can. Being sneaky seems to add a little extra excitement to their lovemaking.

The snow stops during the night, but not the wind. By morning the stiff wind has blown drifts and there are both spots of bare ground where the snow has been completely blown away, and snow mountains which they count three of close to the cabin. Including where the access door to the cellar is. Merle quips, "It's got extra insulation now." They're all just glad they have plenty of supplies in the houses to get them by until they can dig out.

The next three days are spent digging, scrapping, and using the ATV as a mini snowplow when it's feasible. The second night over dinner Daryl declares, "We gotta get a backhoe or a tractor. Sumthin' we can put a real blade on ta clear this place." Then he tells them of his plan to head down the mountain when harvest time comes and try to gather up some produce, "I'll just have ta take a chance then. If I can find the equipment and it's not too big ta tow, or I can find a flatbed ta put it on, I'll be bringin' it home."

Merle's all ears, "Ya didn't tell me you was goin' down the mountain brother. I better go with ya."

"Nope, you stay here and look after things, especially that new baby you're gonna have by then. If I's ta take anyone, I'd take Beth, and I already told her no."

They have a bit of false spring in mid March. The sky is clear and sunny, the temperatures warm up a little, and enough snow melts to make huge muddy messes in the low spots of the yard. Even with that, they enjoy it while they can. They even have a cookout – it's a lunchtime cookout. It's way too cold to be out at night.

Real spring hits toward the end of April and they start to put their bow traps in. Gosh though, the weather is just right and a person can't start too soon, there are a lot of mouths to feed. Daryl tells the others, "I'ma take the ATV out early tomorrow, me and Jack. I been promisin' him a huntin' trip for a long time. We'll be lookin' for deer, but smaller critters too."

Merle asks, "Ya want me ta go?"

"No, I want you ta stay alert and keep an eye out forf that bear. He's liable ta be hungry and come by here for a visit and a snack." Merle doesn't argue. He knows he needs to stay home, set traps, and take care of his wife.

Daryl's favorite trail is clear and he and Jack ride the ATV to their usual parking spot, then set out walking. They're both light on their feet and smiling on the inside and the outside. Finally they're out and doing what they love. They've walked three quarters of a mile or so when Jack stops, pushes his nose against Daryl's leg and then uses it to point in the direction of the prey.

Daryl smiles at the dog as he leans down, pats him on the head and Jack sits. He knows his Dad will call for him soon. Daryl walks another half mile or so, and then comes upon them. He has to calm himself, wow, there's a herd of 12 deer. Does he dare? Sure he does. He uses the rifle and quickly puts three down, while the rest of the herd scatters in every direction.

He calls for Jack and the dog hurries to him, sitting and watching as Daryl field dresses the animals. When he's done he says, "Can ya stay with em Jack? I don't think I can carry more'n one at time."

He could swear the dog is frowning, but when he tells him stay, Jack stays. The plan is simple, he'll carry them one after another to the ATV, and hope nothing bothers them before he gets them all loaded. He lays the first one in the trailer, covers the deer with a tarp, that'll help, then runs back to where he left the dog. Jack is waiting obediently and Daryl reaches in his pocket, getting a biscuit for the animal before slinging the second deer across his shoulders and heading back to the ATV with it.

He's almost there when he senses something, a presence of some kind. Maybe he's imagining things, but he could swear he's not alone. Then a voice calls out, "Daryl, Daryl don't shoot, it's me. It's Rick Grimes from the prison."

00

A/N Well now. Please leave a comment. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please have a look. I'll be back next week with more of The Man on The Mountain. I hope you'll be here too! Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee