The Baker and the Butcher

Chapter 17

"Brother you better get your redneck ass up."
That was what Daryl woke up to on Monday morning.
"You got work and I happen to know there's a little blonde baker waiting for you."
He slowly rubbed his eyes and was met with Merle's annoying ass face grinning down at him.
They had talked all night last night, staying up until 2:30 opening up about the shit life they had been handed, and everything the other had missed. Merle had told him not a day went by he didn't think about him.
"I kept tabs on you, had a few friends watching, when you moved in with the grimes I knew you had a new family. Didn't think you would ever want me to come back. I weren't much of a brother to you any way."
"Why did you leave me Merle? I needed you. You were supposed to be my big brother and you just up and left me to take all the beatings"
He didn't want to sound as pitiful as he knew he came off.
"I thought I was the reason they were so angry. I was a selfish bastard. I only thought about myself. As soon as I left I regretted it, leaving you behind and all."
"You could have come back for me. We could have been together."
"I couldn't risk it brother, you know the old man would have killed me. But I'm back now and I'm stayin' as long as I'm welcome, I reckon I'll look into getting a job at that mechanics down the way, with this damn gimp hand it might be tougher."
He said looking longingly down at his arms toying with the bandage.
Daryl watched him curiously before sighing
" you can stay here as long as ya want, so long as you don't do any thin' awful to my family."
Merle looked up
"Yeah brother I won't I promise you."
That's how they got along to talking about Beth.
Merle had said he couldn't imagine anyone better to set him in his place then the little blonde angel.
That's why he was gunna make sure Daryl wasn't late for work.
"You really gunna stay in that bed, Y'know she ain't gunna wait forever I reckon there's a line a boys waitin' for her and I'm gunna be right in the front if you don't get your ass up."
Daryl threw his pillow in Merle's face.
Merle dodged the pillow and laughed On his way out
"I wonder if she goes for one armed jobless criminals."
Daryl threw the other pillow as Merle ducked out the door frame.
Half an hour later and he was pulling his truck into the market.
He wiped his sweaty palms as he hopped out and made his way to the door.
Nodding at everyone he passed and offering his usual half smile.
He stood in the door frame of Mercy bakery and watched his favorite blonde kiss ass kicker on the head before handing her a little cup of carrots.
"I know sugar, carrots ain't the same as cupcakes, but you gotta eat em' you might like them!"
She turned around to pick up the napkin behind her and as soon as she turned around Judith spit out her half chewed carrots all over Beth's white cardigan.
Sighing she pulled her cardigan off and revealed the short spaghetti strapped yellow sundress.
"Well little one you think I'm gunna give up that easily? Think again, you are gunna eat these carrots."
Daryl cleared his throat and moved to cross over to Beth and the baby.
She jumped about a hundred feet before putting her hand over her heart.
"Daryl Dixon you can't just sneak up on us ladies like that."
He smiled tugging the spoon out of her hands.
"Y'aint gunna get her to eat her vegetables like that, carl did the same thing just spit em all over the place"
Beth raised her eyebrow and smiled at him
"Well alright you try then."
He quickly popped a hand on Judith's belly and tickled her.
As soon as she opened her mouth he popped the spoon in and whispered something in the baby's ear.
"What was that?! What did you say to her?"
He laughed
"Secret between me and the asskicker."
"Fine then, I'll be calling you every time she needs to eat her vegetables then."
He laughed popping anther spoonful into her mouth
"Fine by me" he whispered.
Beth was by the sink drying off her cardigan when he came up behind her placing his hands on her hips.
"Is this okay"
He whispered nervously into her ear.
"Mmmhmm" she hummed softly.
He turned her around with his hands until they were face to face.
"Do you wanna talk about last night?" He questioned.
"There isn't much to talk about. I like you, you like me. We kissed. That's what two people who like each other do. I know you're nervous about me being the bosses daughter."
He raised an eyebrow. She smiled.
"I know because you casually bring it into every conversation we have. "Oh isn't the weather nice today?" "Yeah perfect for the bosses daughter."
He blushed and looked down.
She tilted her head to meet his eyes and smiled.
" that doesn't matter to me and it doesn't matter to anyone else, butttt I understand that you want to take it slow and we will. No one needs to know about whatever we have except us okay?"
He let out the breathe he had been holding and nodded gently grabbing her chin.
"That doesn't mean I can't do this does it?"
He gently pressed his lips to hers and she broke the kiss with a smile.
"You can do that whenever you want." She smiled leaning in for another.
" BETH!"
They jumped apart quick when michonne yelled for Beth.
"Oh christmas I was supposed to help michonne paint my new shelves. I gotta go."
She said leaning in and pecking him one more time before running out of the room.
Daryl looked down at the gurgling baby next to him and smiled.
"You and me both kid, you and me both ."