A/N Hi, and thank you all so much. How's this living arrangement going? Let's find out.

The Move

Friday morning, over coffee and leftover rolls from their Thanksgiving dinner, the family discusses their living situation. Merle and Frankie have made it clear, they're ready to get moved into their own home. Daryl's not opposed. He's anxious to have the cabin back to himself and Beth, but he warns, "I got a start on the bathroom, but it's gonna take a lot more work 'fore it's done. If ya don't wanna go outside, you'll hafta use pots for a while."

Merle just snorts, "That ain't a problem for me. As long as I don't hafta go out in the middle of the night n freez my bare ass off." He laughs as he adds, "Or meet up with that damn bear while I'm doin' my business."

Daryl nods, "No shit, but I'd bet that if the ol boy wasn't in his den before the blizzard hit, he sure as hell got in when it started. He won't be bitin' your ass brother, he's bedded down for the winter."

Frankie is a little pink cheeked as she gets the conversation back on topic, "I think it's time for Merle and I to get out of your way, and like him, I would much rather use the chamber pots than have to use the great outdoors, at least at night."

Daryl nods, "I don't blame ya. A'ight then, after breakfast I'ma clip some turkey's wings and get them out in the pen where they belong. Soon as that's done, I'll be workin' on your bathroom."

Beth smiles, "Wow, things are coming together, and Merle, you've really been healing up quickly. I'm so glad there haven't been any complications. As soon as the kitchen is clean, I'll help Frankie set up your house. There are still lots of things in the pickup we need to get organized and put away too. We'll see about all of that right after we get the new home organized."

Merle's frowning, "What about me? What am I doin'?"

Frankie suggests, "What do you mean, what are you doing? Why don't you come with me and Beth? You and I should be deciding together what to do about stuff like drawer space and where we want to keep our kitchen things."

Merle scoffs, "I meant do sumthin' important."

Beth's eyes grow wide. Uh oh. Frankie's hand is on her hip, and maybe it's pregnancy hormones, maybe it's the stress of almost losing Merle. It could be the stress of his recovery. Maybe it's all the time the small family have spent in close quarters. Surely the fact of the world ending could have something to do with it too. Whatever it is, no one has any doubt at all that Frankie is pissed off when she angrily responds, "So you don't consider setting up a house with me as 'doing something important'? Is that right Merle Dixon? That's big news to me, because before I came up here you told me you want to spend the rest of your life with me, but now that I'm here, and you made it abundantly clear I'm never allowed to leave here, things are different? Is that it? You couldn't care less where and how we spend that life? If you love me like you said you do, how can that be?"

Daryl and Beth want no part of this. They look and feel incredibly uncomfortable as they listen to the exchange.

Oh fuck him, Merle knows he screwed up, but he thinks fast and tries to make a recovery, "C'mon now Frankie, sweetheart, ya know I didn't mean it that way. Ya know I didn't. Of course it's important ta me. It means the world, it does. I want ya ta be happy, and I'm goin' with you gals and you just tell me what ta do next and I'll do it."

Fuck. He couldn't give a rat's ass less where they keep the spoons and forks or the dinner plates. He'll find em. He doesn't care which side of the bed she sleeps on, he'll find her. This is all just bullshit. But he'll never say that now. He's not that dumb.

Watching Merle squirm as he fights his way out of trouble has Daryl fighting the urge to laugh out loud, but he doesn't want to piss off Frankie because that would piss off Beth. Shit, he makes enough mistakes of his own, he doesn't need to partner up with Merle.

Instead, Daryl wisely suggests, "C'mon with me brother, we can take our time walkin' over ta your place, you can see what I done so far."

Merle's glad to get out of the line of fire. "Yeah, yeah, lemme get my coat." Frankie walks over to help him get his left arm in the coat sleeve, and for a moment she holds her body next to his. Merle smiles and softly says, "Thanks Sweetheart. I know I'm a dumb ass, but I did one really smart thing, didn't I? I talked ya into movin' up here."

Daryl and Beth share a quick glance and an understanding smile, and on Merle's words the air in the room immediately lightens.

Once the kitchen has been cleaned Beth and Frankie each get an armful of the clothing from the backseat of the pickup and make their way to Frankie's. While Beth gets a good fire going, Frankie gets the clothes in an organized pile, then Beth offers, "I have an idea. I know you grabbed all this stuff in a hurry and didn't really have time to check it out, so…I was just thinking, while we're looking through it and deciding what each of us can use, we should make another pile that we separate from everything else. A pile of things I can remake into baby clothes."

"Oh my gosh, really Beth?"

"Yes, I think this is going to be so fun. And especially keep an eye out for soft flannels. We have diapers to make."

Frankie looks a little stunned, "Diapers?" She laughs softly while mumbling to herself, "Wow, diapers."

Beth smiles, "Yes, diapers. I do have quite a few flannel pieces from fabric Daryl brought home from a friend's house. I'm sure we'll have plenty, and not just for diapers. I'll want to make some soft gowns and little blankets too."

"Oh Beth, what would I do without you?"

Beth rests a hand on Frankie's, assuring her, "You'd manage just fine."

"You're too modest Beth. I think you're just like Merle and Daryl, whatever needs to be done you always figure out a way to do it."

"Well thank you for saying that. Making baby clothes is a little selfish though. I mean, I'm making them for your baby, but I'm also hoping I'll be having a baby sometime soon. I want both of our babies to have everything they need."

"Are you…?"

"No, no I'm pretty sure I'm not. Sometime in the near future though. At least I hope so. We'll see."

"And Daryl?"

"Daryl says he wants me to be happy." She smiles softly, "Honestly? I think he's crazy about the idea, but he's worried it's not a good idea. He worries a lot, about everything."

Merle only has the two-drawer nightstand, but the women quickly come up with a solution. There are plenty of nice wooden crates that were used to store moonshine jars. The crates placed on their sides, two high, will make a cute and handy way to neatly stack and store Merle and Frankie's clothes. Their warmer weather clothes, and the fabric that will be used for baby clothes, can also be store in the crates. Everything that's not be used now can then be stacked in the big inside kitchen area of the building, separate from Merle and Frankie's new home.

Beth suggests, "I think it might be a good idea for Merle to secure the crates to the wall, so that eventually, when the Baby pulls itself up on them, they don't tip over and hurt the poor little thing."

"Oh my gosh, good idea Beth, I never even thought of that."

Beth smiles knowingly, "I've done a lot of babysitting, and I've had lots of training as a nurse. I've seen plenty of accidents no one ever thought would happen."

"I bet, and by the way, I don't think I told you how grateful I am to you for making sure Merle pulled through."

Beth just says, "It's my job, and I got to put my nursing skill to work, but a big part of his recovery is him being him. I think I have to agree with Daryl, no one can kill Merle but Merle."

While the ladies have been working in the house, Daryl's been busy just on the other side of the wall, building the bathroom. Yesterday he got the floor in. He didn't pour concrete, not this time of year, shit it's just too cold. He built a wood floor instead, like his and Beth's. That's nicer, and warmer. He's got the bathroom all framed in. The roof is thick plywood and he's got some insulation in, and there's plenty of scrap metal roofing to finish it off. With any luck he'll have it usable by day after tomorrow, including an access door into the house. He's hoping Beth will have time to help him with some of the finish carpentry, including that door. He can't wait to finish this up so he can move on to other projects. Merle can fine tune it and fancy the bathroom up for Frankie when he's back to 100%. For now, while the weather is pretty darn pleasant, Daryl has a mile long to-do list he's anxious to whittle down.

As soon as he gets a fucking minute, the first thing on his agenda is the ATV. He's got to get it running smoothly again, but he doesn't expect a lot of trouble with that. It's been reliable for a lot of years. When it's good to go, he's going to fashion a blade for the front of it so he can use it as a snow plow. It won't be able to handle something like all the snow from that crazy blizzard but it can sure help with it, and for normal snowfall it ought to be just right.

Once he's done with the ATV project, he's got to do some work on the duck's coop. Not a lot, but a little more insulation, straw will work great, and they should like that for nesting. If he insulates good, and caulks it, he and Beth shouldn't ever have to worry about bringing the birds inside again when it storms.

He's also got to separate the turkeys and ducks in the pen. Daryl's not worried they'll fight or harm each other, but they do have different habits. When he built the pen he made it oversized and that's going to pay off now. There's plenty of room for everyone, including if they add found birds or theses birds breed. He just has to build a little fence within the pen, something with a gate, to keep the ducks on one side with their "pool," and the turkeys on the other side with their constant digging. He does have to build an open shelter for the turkeys too. They don't need a coop, they're hardy, they've been living in this country their whole lives, but they do need something they can huddle under when the snow or rain falls.

The women take a break, it's almost lunch time and their tummies, especially Frankie's, are feeling that. Beth notes, "At least we have lots of nice leftovers, we can have turkey sandwiches like in the old days of Thanksgiving." That comment has both feeling a little nostalgic for the world that used to be, but they know they can't dwell there.

Daryl dug out a hole in the snow just big enough for an old feed trough he found on the property. No one could figure out what his Dad or Grandad might have used it for, but he kept it, and now, it's become a refrigerator. He made a lid for it from a thick piece of board, and Beth slides the board aside to retrieve the leftover turkey and jar of gravy stored for their lunch. Frankie smiles, "Hot turkey sandwiches sound so delicious for me and the baby," She rests her hand on her belly and says, "Little Merle's really hungry today."

Beth's eyebrows go up, "Little Merle?"

Frankie smiles, "Just a feeling I have that it's a boy."

"I see, and you're going to call him Merle?"

"I'm not sure about that part, but maybe."

They're smiling and everything is all good, until the two women walk in Daryl and Beth's cabin. Big Merle's in trouble again.

As Daryl's approaching the cabin's front door, he hears the woman loudly insisting, "No!" "Stop that!" "You shouldn't be lifting anything!" "Quit that Merle!"

He hurries in demanding, "What the fuck is goin' on in here?"

Frankie's angry and emotional and she speaks right up, "Merle's ready to move back home, but he wouldn't wait for you to get back and help with the bed, no, no way, he thinks he should just move it himself and I'm scared he's going to tear something open."

Daryl heaves a heavy sigh as he looks at his brother, "Merle, sit yer ass down. Who you tryin' to impress here? These women, or me? We all think you're big n strong enough ta do it, but the only doc we got says ya can't be lifting things yet. Now let loose of it. I told ya I'd haul that over for ya."

"I'm sick a this shit. I ain't made a glass, I can do my part."

Daryl tells him again like he's told him before, "Yeah, yeah, we all know you're the toughest sumbitch ever built, but right now ya gotta heal. It's gonna be a long winter and we're gonna need your help. A couple more weeks and you'll be right as rain."

Then Daryl laughs and asks his brother, "Makes ya see just how fucked up the world really is when I'm the calm n cool voice of reason around here."

Merle laughs along with him, "No shit."

Frankie's not amused, "I don't think it's funny Merle Dixon. I don't think it's fair of you to just always think of yourself and what you want. I'm the one carrying your child, I don't need you acting like a child."

Somewhere in the middle of all that Daryl has taken Beth's elbow and they're on a little walk outside, "We'll let them have it out and we'll go see what your little pals are up to."

Her arm is wrapped through his and Beth smiles up at him, "I'm so darn glad you showed up when you did. I was about to scream. My gosh."

"Merle didn't mean no harm, he's just a little stir crazy is all, and he forgets the way his moods affect everyone else's life. From the sounds of it, Franke's the gal that's gonna make him see the light." Then he's chuckling again, "I been waitin' my whole life for the day Merle Dixon met his match, I think he's done it."

As they enter the big front work area at the front of Merle's house, Beth fills her pockets with birdseed, "It's nice and sunny out, and I think it's about time these ducks started living outside again. They are pretty cold hardy, I was just being extra cautious I think. Shall we see if they'll follow me back where they belong?"

"Heck yeah, let's do it."

They spot one as soon as they get close to the makeshift pen, "Oh my gosh Daryl, an egg! Our first egg, and look, Donna's got one over there too, and oh, so does DeeDee."

He's almost laughing, "You're a funny lady Beth. Why don't ya see if you can get these girls and boys ta follow ya, and when you're gone I'll gather up the eggs."

"Yes, that sounds perfect."

Beth starts to drop the seed, and the birds happily follow her, and as soon as they've all cleared the doorway, Daryl's gathering eggs. Four nice perfect duck eggs, he's smiling as he carries them to the cabin, whispering to himself, "Hell yeah, eggs for breakfast."

He walks through the door and shit, it looks like Merle and Frankie have resolved their differences. They're lying on the bed making out, but it's a lot more than just that. Fuck that guy, Merle's got his hand down her pants. Daryl's not having it, "Knock that shit off Merle. I'll move your bed over right now."

As he's carefully setting the eggs on the counter Frankie's scrambling to right her clothes, "I'm sorry Daryl, I…"

Daryl's not looking her way, "Yeah, yeah, I know my brother Frankie. I ain't mad at you, shit, I ain't even mad at him."

He turns, shaking his head as he picks the mattress up and says, "C'mon Merle, I'll walk ya home."

Finally, they have their house to themselves. It's only been a few days, and Merle and Frankie weren't really bad guests, but man, Daryl and Beth missed everything about each other. They missed the simple things, like just the two of them at breakfast together, and sitting by the fire together at night. They missed the intimacy of talking and touching and everything else they like to do in bed. It will be so good to get back to their little life.

They're snuggled under the covers as Daryl's hand slips up the front of her pajama top, and Beth's hand slides up the back of his t-shirt. They kiss and move their bodies closer, as their hands softly roam over each other's skin. Their bodies begin to come alive and they respond to the touching and the closeness with unrestrained desire.

It doesn't matter how cold it is up on that mountain, it's getting warmer and warmer under the quilt. They've given in completely to their passion, and soon he's carefully pulling Beth's pajamas down and off. When she moans with need it has him quickly tugging his sweatpants down and tossing them aside. She can't help giggling her warning as he mounts her, "You're going to miss those later," and he responds by covering her mouth with his as he pushes himself inside her.

She's not careful about how loud she is when she shudders and calls out with pleasure when she comes, and Daryl's not shy about how loudly he groans as he comes right along with her.

They lay cuddled in each other's arms, neither wanting to move away from the warm embrace or move out from under the warmth of the quilt.

They lay cuddled in each other's arms, neither wanting to move away from the warm embrace or move out from under the warmth of the quilt.

They catch their breath and Beth's index finger gently runs along his jawline when she softly says, "It sure seems like we have a lot of room in here without that bed and all of Frankie and Merle's things, doesn't it?"

His hand is cupping the back of her head and he draws her close, kissing her curls when he answers, "Yeah, the place is like a fuckin' palace. I shoulda made it smaller."

She giggles, but then turns serious when she says, "Daryl, stop. Really though? I was thinking." He's feeling it, something's up, and here it comes, "We have just enough room for a little Christmas tree."

00

A/N A Christmas tree? Christmas on the Mountain? I'm all in for that. 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, and I hope you'll be here too. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo