Merle stepped into the watch tower and shook his head in annoyance. He picked up 3 separate sheets of paper with half finished lists on them. He didn't have to look at the girly handwriting to know who it belonged to. She left the damn things all over the place. He crumpled up the sheets of paper and tossed them into a corner to deal with later.

"Ya comin' ta the meetin' in an hour?" Daryl questioned as they crossed paths the next morning.

"Yeah, I got a damn bone ta pick,"

Daryl's eyebrow lifted but he chose to leave it alone for the time being. He would find out soon enoug area they used as a kitchen and dining room. He knew he would sit on the stairs like he does at every meal. Merle knew that while he had been working hard to change his ways and be a better man, most people within the prison would never see him as anything other than a drugged up, alcoholic, redneck asshole. He didn't mind, he was only there because of his little brother, anyways.

He normally ignored the others in the group, just went about his own business. Today he would speak his mind. Especially now that he spotted another list on one of the tables. He picked up the newest list, dumped his empty bowl and went to his cell. He glanced at the list and rolled his eyes. A damn list of all the men in the prison and their clothing sizes. At least that list happened to be somewhat helpful, he couldn't help thinking.

He stepped into his cell and washed his face using a rag and bottle of water before changing his shirt. He glanced around the cell, taking in the few things he kept outside of his go bag. It took him a moment to realize things weren't exactly as he had left them.

"Are ya fuckin' kiddin' me?" He walked around the tiny cell and checked his belongings. Nothing missing, just moved around a little. "Who the fuck is stupid enough ta fuck wit' me?" He sat down on the bed and looked around again. He spotted a piece of paper tucked under a small table he had put in the room.

Merle grabbed it, a feeling in his gut telling him the blond had something to do with it all. He started reading the list.

-More clothes

-Deodorant

-Straight razor and kit

-Books (Does Merle even read?)

"The fuck, she think I'm illiterate?" He asked himself before continuing to read her list.

-Comfy pillows

-More blankets

-Rug, he shouldn't have cold toes in the morning

-Mirror

-Curtains, everyone deserves some privacy

-Lotion, so his arm doesn't get all chapped when he's worn his knife thing.

-New boots

-Fuzzy socks

He half wished she had written her thoughts on the fuzzy socks, before he forced the thought out of his head. He reminded himself of the fact she had gone into his cell and went through his shit. "Why the fuck is that girl makin' a list o' shit fer me?"

Merle watched the members of the council from where he leaned against a wall. He was only half listening to their discussion about reinforcing the fences. He was thinking about all them damn lists.

"Is there anything else?" The old man asked the group.

"I's got somethin'," Merle stated. The others turned towards him. "I keep findin' half baked lists all over the goddamn place, I's even findin' 'em in my fuckin' cell,"

His little brother snickered and Merle glared at him.

Maggie And Hershel spoke at the same time, "Beth,"

"I know the fuck it is doin' it, I's wantin' ta know why an' why ya ain't stopped that shit."

"Beth has made lists since she was a little girl. I don't even notice them anymore," Hershel admitted.

"Me either," Maggie agreed.

"I found one in Judith's playpen yesterday when I got her up from her nap. It's harmless an' she usually notices things we need from runs that we overlook." Rick added.

Daryl laughed as Rick finished his story.

"'S a damn waste o' paper,"

"Nah, Merle. She keeps shit runnin' 'round here wit' some o' 'em. 'Sides, it keeps 'er busy when she ain't got Asskicker."

Merle tried, he really did, to ignore the lists. He found nearly a dozen over the next week. He just made a stack of them and gave them to little brother. He refused to read anymore of them after the one he found in his cell. He was still scratching his head on that one, after all.

One evening he was surprised to find himself having dinner in the common area at the same time as most of the group, instead of being on watch in the tower or walking the fences.

He sat on the steps next to his little brother and observed the group, noting the way that despite their different backgrounds they melded into a family unit.

Merle jumped up, surprising everyone closest to him and shouted, "Aw, hell no! Ya ain't writin' another o' them damn lists just ta leave it layin' 'round!"

He watched her turn and look at him, her blue eyes getting big and round and filling with tears before she stood and ran from the room.

"Fuckin' hell, Merle, tha' girls got OCD, why can't ya jus' leave it alone?" Daryl shouted at him.

He instantly regretted his choice to yell at the girl. He didn't speak as he left the room and went in search of her.

He found her in her cell, the light purple she used as a curtain closed. He could hear her crying. He tapped quietly on the bars with his knife hand before he walked in.

"I's sorry, girl. I's an asshole for yellin' at ya," She sat on the edge of her bunk and slowly looked up at him, tear tracks evident on her cheeks. "C'mon, stop cryin' Suga. I know ya ain't ta blame for yer lists,"

"I've tried to stop makin' them, but I can't,"

"I'll help ya," He promised the young woman in front of him, without a moment of hesitation.

"Why?"

"Cause ya deserve better'n how I just treated ya an' I know a little somethin' 'bout this shit,"

Merle Dixon received a lot of shit for the way he talked to Beth Greene that night at dinner and he didn't say a word in his own defense. Contrary to popular opinion of everyone in that prison, he isn't completely heartless, and he sure knows when he fucked up.

He started keeping the blonde near him as much as he could, getting to know her, watching the way she made her lists and when she was more apt to make them. Hell, he even helped her to complete a few of them. He stopped getting frustrated when he found them laying around. He just piled them up in his cell and tossed the ones that aren't useful, giving the others to Officer Friendly or his little brother.

A few weeks after the scene he caused at dinner he pulled his bother aside. "I's needin' off watch fer awhile,"

"Why the fucks that, Merle?"

He looked away from Daryl for a moment, "I made a promise I plan on keepin',"

Daryl chose not to ask Merle any other questions. They both knew it was about the blonde. Oh yeah, they both knew the other had a soft spot for her, even if it happened to be in different ways.