The Baker and the Butcher

Chapter 15

"What kind of area code d'ya reckon this is?" Daryl questioned pushing the ringing phone under Beth's nose.

She shifted the sleeping baby in her arms squinting to make out the number.
"Looks like a Georgia number. You got a girlfriend in Georgia Mr.Dixon?"
She smirked.
He rolled his eyes and shot her a a cocky smile. He went to pick up the phone
"Not in here you don't. I just got judy to sleep, and you don't have the quietest voice in the world." She whispered sassily.
He smirked and bent down to give her a sloppy kiss on the cheek before she shooed him out of the room.
He walked towards his butchers block picking up his cleaver on the way there.
"Dixon" he grunted into the phone.
"Now how am I supposed to respond to that baby brother Y'know you ain't the only Dixon walkin' this earth."
Daryl dropped the cleaver with a clang that resonated through the whole market.
"Merle" he whispered into the phone.
His throat was dry and his palms sweaty.
"Hey darylina, ain't talked in a while huh?"
"What do you want Merle, I ain't got any money and I ain't seen our parents in years."
He heard a dry chuckle come through the speaker of his phone.
" is that what you think of me brother I'm hurt, really I am."
"So what do you want Merle and make it quick I gotta go."
"Listen. I just need a place to crash alright? Just for a few weeks, I gotta lay low for a bit. Hurt myself real bad."
Daryl pressed his hand to his face this was his blood, his real brother he couldn't say no to family no matter what.
But then again Merle brought trouble everywhere he went and Daryl had another family to look out for now.
Just then He felt a warm hand on his bicep.
He turned to find Beth standing there Judith in the carriage beside her gurgling and smiling up at him. He took a deep breathe.
Family was family no matter what.
"Alright Merle, a couple weeks but that's it and you're gunna have to promise you won't bring any trouble this way."
" you got it baby brother just text me your address and I'll be by tonight."
"I'm trusting you Merle." He hung up quick dropping to the floor an sighing.
"I swear greene you're influencing me way too much."
She smiled plopping down next to him
"Nope you're getting soft in your old age."
He chuckled pushing her gently.
"You're a good man Daryl Dixon."
He wrapped an arm around her as she leaned into his side.
"I'm gunna need you a lot more Than usual Beth Greene." He whispered into her hair.
She pulled away looking up at him.
"I'm here Daryl. I'm always here."
He pushed the long blonde tendril of hair that had fallen in her eyes as he leaned towards her.
There lips were almost touching when
Judith started coughing and crying. They jumped apart quickly.
Beth blushed
"Poor thing has a cold. Been coughing all day I better go see bob about some cough syrup." She turned to leave.
"Hey."
She turned at Daryl's word.
"I'll see you later okay?"
She nodded at the hidden meaning behind his words.
Both of them turned away feeling lighter than they had in months.