The Baker and the Butcher

Chapter 23

"...don't ask me what to do! Does it look like I ever been in a situation with a baby before!" Merle shouted over the wailing baby.
Daryl was rocking a crying Judith back and forth when he asked Merle what he should do.
"Where is blondie! I can't take much more of this."
Beth had gone with Tyreese and carl to stock up on food an use the bathroom ten minutes ago.
It wasn't a coincidence that ten minutes ago was the exact time judy started wailing.
"All right well then help me, you gotta check and see if her diapers wet. I'll hold her up you check her bottom."
Daryl said raising the baby.
Merle's eyes grew wide as he pushed himself up against the side of the door
"Have you lost your shit brother?!? There is no way I am touching the kids ass."
Daryl rolled his eyes "I ain't askin' you to wear the diaper I just wanna check and see of it's wet."
Merle sighed cringing as he went and popped a hand under the babies butt.
"Yeah well she damn near sprung a leak, now what?"
Daryl smirked "easy ill just go get a diaper from the back. Here hold he for a second." He shoved the baby gently in Merle's arms.
"Hey now I ..." But Daryl was already out of the car.
He awkwardly shifted the baby so he could hold her more comfortably.
"Sooo.. Uh you gotta stop wettin' yourself, ain't nothin but a hassle."
The baby stopped crying and looked up to Merle questioningly before touching the stump that was his arm.
Merle looked down at the baby who smile and cooed before moving her hand to his face.
"You ain't scared of me kid?"
The baby giggled squeezing his nose.
Merle actually smiled pretending to nibble the baby's fingers as she squealed and flailed laughing and reaching for him.
Merle fixed Judith's onesie and and moved to hold her upright.
"You're gunna have a different life little one. Nobody's gunna hurt you. I promise."
Suddenly a cough from the open car door beside him startled Merle into almost dropping Judith.
Beth was leaning against the door smiling.
"Tyreese forgot his wallet. I can take her from here if you want I'm sure you don't wanna go and check a stinky diaper." She motioned towards the diaper bag on her shoulder.
"No! I mean let me do it. I can change a diaper it ain't that hard little bit, if Daryl can do it so can I." He grabbed the diaper and moved past Beth holding Judith tight and sauntering over to the trunk to change her diaper.
Daryl came from the back of the car rubbing his head "can't find the damn diaper bag , and I hit my head I'm gunna have a bump for a month."
He looked confused at seeing Beth who shook her head putting her fingers to her Lips pointing at Merle giving Judith raspberries.
Daryl raised his eyebrows dropping an arm over Beth's shoulder.
He smiled " think we need a daycare in this new market of ours."
Beth looked up at him smiling
"I did hear that there plenty a baby's in Dallas."
He smiled as Tyreese and carl came to stand next to the couple.
Carl started "is that Merle changing Judy's diaper?"
Beth smiled "I guess change really isn't always a bad thing
Merle came back to the car with a happy and clean Judith, looking around at the grins on all of their faces he rolled his eyes.
"There baby's clean now can we please get going, pretty sure ricks gunna meet up with us at some point."
They all gave him a knowing look as he handed the baby to Beth.
He shoved carl in the car
"Ah shutup runt."
Carl laughed popping him on the shoulder.
About twenty minutes in the boredom hit.
Suddenly a song came on the radio that seemed to get Beth all riled up.
"Oh god I looovvee this song."
Tyreese piped up from the back,
"Me too girl."
Every man has the right to live
Love is all that we have to give
Together we struggle by the will to survive
Together we fight just to stay alive
Tyreese and Beth joined in on the chorus her beautiful clear voice mixing with his rich baritone voice
"Struggling man has got to move
Struggling man no time to loseeee
I'm a struggling man
And I got to move on."
Thy both laughed as Daryl and Merle exchanged glances in the mirror
Beth and Tyreese acted like it was nothing but Merle and Daryl had never heard anything sound that good.
They knew they were both thinkin the same thing
Everything they went through all of their struggle led them right here to the new family.
It was all worth it .