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Daryl's Irish Destiny

Reunion

Hours later, Daryl and Merle had lost count of how many beer they’d drunk, but they were definitely merry.Merle watched Niamh clear the food away, put all the leftovers in the fridge and then wash all the dishes.The woman was a marvel with a magic touch in the kitchen.She hummed to herself, singing snatches of songs as she worked and as he watched her, Daryl had the biggest sappiest, happiest grin that his brother had ever seen.

“Jesus, Darylina.Yer gonna marry her, aren’t ya?”

Daryl blushed and nodded without hesitation.“I love her, Merle.She’s the best woman I ever known.”He expected a torrent of misogynist abuse about her and belittling vitriol directed to him but it never came.“Yer not wrong, baby brother.She’s a gem.If ya don’ marry her, I will, I tell you what.”Daryl smiled sleepily.“She’s a survivor, too, Merle.Wha’ she been through, an’ ta come out so sweet an’ carin’ on the other side.She’s a wonder.A miracle.”

“Yer drunk, son.” Merle pushed lazily on his shoulder so Daryl’s face slid off his hands where it was perched.He turned back to look at Niamh, curious now about the statement Daryl had made.How was this pretty little Irish pixie a survivor?“Whatcha mean?” Merle asked but Daryl’s head had fallen onto his arms in a doze.“Lightweight.” Merle grumbled.“Hey Niamh.” He said to get her attention.“Help me get this drunken redneck ta bed.”Niamh turned to look at him.“Which drunken redneck is that?” she asked, smiling cheekily.Merle huffed a laugh back.“This idjit here.”He poked Daryl’s shoulder and he got a grumble in response.

Niamh came over to the table to help Merle get Daryl up and walked him to his bedroom.“Where ya sleepin’, Red? I can sleep on the sofa if yer in ma room.”Niamh blushed and smiled.“No.Daryl ‘n’ I, we’re together in his bed.Your room is all ready for you.Don’t know if you’ve been in your room yet, Merle.Daryl replaced all the furniture and fixed up the house while you were away.He wanted your home to be nice for you when you got released.”Merle grunted as he heaved the lion’s share of Daryl’s dead weight down the hall to his room.“Yeah, I noticed.Looks real good.He fixed up my room too?”Merle was surprised, Daryl never gave a shit about their home before.

“He started with your room.Let’s get him to bed and I’ll walk you through the improvements we made.” Niamh informed him. As she pushed the door open, Daryl’s room was dark and cool thanks to the air conditioning he’d installed and she’d turned on earlier to take the heat of the day away from the room they shared.“He put in air conditioning and improved insulation as well, it wasn’t just cosmetic improvements he made.He said if you did sell the house at some point, you’d get more for it with the improvements he made.”

Merle was impressed and although he didn’t want to admit it, he was also touched.He knew Daryl had the knowhow to do the work she described but he had no idea Daryl had the inclination.“Sit him down there and hold him so I can get his shirt off him.I can get him out of his pants.”Merle laughed, low and dirty.“I have no doubt ya can, l’il bit.”Niamh flushed and laughed at the obvious double entendre.

Minutes later, Daryl was sleeping off his drunk, a large glass of water and a bottle of headache pills beside him.“Are you wanting to go to bed now, Merle?”He issued his trademark dirty laugh again.“Yes, please, Red, if ya joinin’ me.”She slapped his meaty arm playfully.“Stop that.”He chuckled.“Cain’t help it.Ya make it too easy.” She joined him in a chuckle.“I was just asking if you wanted to sit up and chat for a bit or if you were too tired or too drunk and wanted to get some sleep.” She said carefully, almost challenging him to find a dirty double entendre in that.He smiled, seeing how she had planned her words so carefully.“I’m good, always had a better tolerance fer recreational substances than Daryl, includin’ alcohol.”

“C’mon then, let me show you what he’s done, what we’ve both done.She showed him his room, his new bed and bedding.“I hope you don’t mind, I’ve bought you some new clothes to replace the ones that I found in your closet that were falling apart.” Merle was stunned that she had bothered.“I found some old photos of you and Daryl and had them enlarged and put them in frames so you’ll be able to see him around the house even when he’s not here.”The old Merle would have scoffed at such a sentimental idea but Merle just smiled and tried not to let her hear the hitch in his throat when he thanked her.

“We refreshed all the paint in the house, you can still smell it in this room as it’s not had anyone in it since it was painted, unlike the rest of the house.” She indicated the fresh paintwork on the walls and Merle noticed as they went through that every room in the house was cleaner and brighter.“He fixed the roof, put in more insulation and installed the air conditioning units in the bedrooms and sitting room.”

She led him to the back of the house, down the hallway to the back door and opened it.Daryl had added a big wide back porch on the house and set up a bench swing on it which swayed lightly in the breeze.She sat down at one end of the bench and Merle sat at the other. “What do you think?” Merle thought for a moment, searching for words for a feeling he’d never had before.“I feel like I’m home.” He said finally, catching Niamh’s smile.“Ain’t never felt this relaxed an’ content in ma life.Ya both took ma house an’ made it inta a home fer me.” Niamh smiled, it was exactly what she had been trying to accomplish.

“Daryl bought you a new fridge freezer and a chest freezer and I’ve been cooking and freezing meals for you, making sure to label and date the containers so you know what’s in them and when it was made.”Merle’s eyebrows raised in surprise.“I know I’m taking Daryl away from you and I wanted to do something, anything I could really, to soften that blow.Daryl told me what your favourite foods are so I’ve been cooking and baking to stock the freezers.I intend to fill them both by the time we head back to Newry.”

Niamh fell silent and Merle contemplated what she had said.They both breathed in deep the scent of honeysuckle and roses mixed with the scent of the surrounding pine woods on the humid summer night air.Crickets were chirping loudly and frogs croaking in the creek that ran behind the house.Merle breathed in a big lungful of air and slowly released it, decompressing at last.

He turned to look at the small woman beside him.“Ya real easy ta be ‘round, ya know it?” He said quietly, almost gently.She looked over at him and smiled.“Thanks.And you’re sweeter than I expected you to be.”He huffed a laugh, looking up at the stars that twinkled brightly in the inky sky.He had missed seeing them, missed the fresh air, open spaces, home cooked food and cold beer.“I ain’t the sweet one.Daryl is.”He looked over at her, consideringly.

“Ma brother’s in love with ya.” He said, almost conversationally.Niamh smiled.“I know.I’m in love with him too.He’s wonderful.” Merle chuckled and lit a cigarette.“He ain’t never been in love before, ya know.He’s green.”Niamh smiled, remembering Daryl’s sweet uncertain awkwardness that had mostly disappeared by now.“He may be new to the experience.” She said, meeting Merle’s eyes openly and candidly. “But he’s a natural.He’s careful with me and pays attention and I know he would never hurt me.With my past, that’s the best you can get.”

Merle looked at her.“Yer past?”Niamh’s eyes dropped down to her hands, her fingernails picking at the apron she still wore.“I was raped.Almost 2 years ago.It was brutal and it took a lot of counselling to cope with the after effects.But Daryl, he was…” She shook her head, correcting herself.“He IS exactly the man I needed and has become exactly the man I want.He’s perfect for me.He makes me feel safe.Loved. Wanted.Needed.Cherished, actually.”

Merle watched her closely, surprised and hell, honoured that she had shared such a personal and vulnerable part of herself when she had only met him today.It was like she had no defences, no walls up to protect herself from people that would abuse or take advantage of her.He shook his head.It made him want to find the bastard that raped her and kill him.Slowly.And painfully. Then he got it, exactly why Daryl was so protective of her.She inspired that naturally in him, in them both.Like it was her super power.

Another long pause and Merle stood up.“I’m gonna hit the sack.Thank ya, Niamh.Fer everythin’ ya done here, fer makin’ ma brother happy.Ya let me know if he ever disrespects ya or treats ya bad.I’ll kick ‘im upside his head fer ya, no questions asked.”Niamh laughed and stood up to follow him inside.Her hands reached out for his bulky arms, so similar to Daryl’s musculature.“You’re welcome Merle.Don’t you worry, Daryl won’t live long enough for me to raise it with you if he disrespects me.I’ll kill him myself.”

“Yeah?How ya gonna do that?” He grinned down at her.Without a pause she responded.“I’ll shoot him with his crossbow.” Merle laughed at the image of this little spitfire shooting Daryl with his own crossbow.“Good night, Merle.” She hugged him quickly and disappeared into Daryl’s bedroom, closing the door quietly behind her.

Merle stood staring after her, wondering if he would ever be lucky enough to find a woman like her for himself.“’Night, l’il bit.” He actually felt…content, for the first time that he could remember, he didn’t feel anything missing from his life.He had enough.He had everything he wanted. He was content.He entered his own room and when he lay down in his new bed, he let the day wash over him and slept as if he hadn’t slept for a hundred years.

Notes

Comments

Sweet Jesus carol is amazing!

Loul461 Loul461
12/6/16

So happy when I saw the update at work I just had to read it! And four chapters...bless your heart!! I've been thinking about you of late and when we might hear from you again. Wonderful update as usual, just love Merle, Daryl and Niamh together. And Carol! What an unexpected surprise. Just love her! Can't wait to read more. ;-)

Grimesgirl63 Grimesgirl63
12/6/16

@Tripper
What can I say? I love badass Carol.

Darylfan1969 Darylfan1969
12/6/16

I love the interaction between Merle. Daryl and Niamh, such a good thing got Merle to see what family does for one another.

And wow, this is a new Carol. I look forward to watching her tame the wild beast that is Merle!

Thanks for the awesome update!

Tripper Tripper
12/5/16

4 chapters added.

Darylfan1969 Darylfan1969
12/5/16