The click of glasses around the bar seemed unusually loud to Carol's ears, along with the expensive perfume of her various friends was smothering. She had been nursing a headache all day, and she would have prefered to stay at home in bed. But it wouldn't look good to leave her own party, when she was guest of honour.

Turning away from the bar, she wandered through the crowd, smiling and saying hello to those close to her. At 40 years old, Carol was gaining national reputation as a writer, and the party was not just for her birthday, it was also a celebration of the release of her new book – The Dead, last night she had flown in from an autograph tour, only to find out her editor required an extra forty pages revisions on the next book she had mailed out.

Her blue eyes swept the crowded bar, tired with the smoke-filled atmosphere and the aching need to sleep. They matched her long sleeveless dress, with its various mixtures of sea greens and blues, almost covering all of her body, yet fitting her tight as a glove. Carol had a figure, she loved to show, she was proud of it for her age. Her hair was short, yet curled into her neck, the silver standing out more within the grey. She never thought of dying it, wanted to age gracefully and was damn proud of it. Daryl had mentioned to her once about trying red, but she had turned his request down flat. Even though he was a master at convincing people to do things his way – well most people she thought silently to herself.- that was the reason his business was flourishing. He won most fights for the lands, where oil was on. For his young age he by past old-timers in the business, with his new ideas and know how, he could practically sniff oil out. It had ensured the rise of Dixon Oil's over the last five years, to the top of the ladder. What Daryl wanted, he got, from everyone except her.

She caught a glimpse of him across the room, already in the clutches of a petite little blonde with eyes like cash registers, she was sure it was Beth. He was almost 6 foot with a muscular frame, he held well, his dark blonde hair was almost shoulder length and often fell over his blue eyes, she often itched to run her fingers through it. At 38 years old, he was every single women's dream, married ones too, she believed. His face made him younger, with boyish looks he had never managed to shake, his scruff was always kept neat, she looked up to his eyes and could see the damage that he had done in an accident awhile back, his left eye having a titanium eye socket with four screws in his nose. He was still conscious at times of the way he looked after the accident, yet the amount of women he had hanging over him, she begged to differ.

Although she and Daryl had been friends, good friends over the last two years, she couldn't help noticing him as a man. The sight of him in his black pants, cream shirt, that clung to his body as if made for him. Would draw woman, and she was not immune.

She lifted the brandy glass to her lips and took a long sip. Her eyes studying both Daryl and Beth, It looked as though he had made an impression on the girl, what was she about 12?. Now that was bitchy and she knew it, hell the women did look young enough to be his He daughter. She actually felt anger towards them, perhaps it was her strong friendship with the man, that made her feel so possessive.

Daryl certainly never gave her any other reason to feel possessive. He knew all about her screwed up affair with was even engaged to him or so she thought, until she found out the bastard was already married with a daughter. Daryl had been there for her and respected her fear of physical involvement, he had never approached her sexually ever, and she often wondered if she was not good enough for him. She wasn't interested in his money, which meant he could trust her in a very special way. Carol never guessed he hadn't been able to trust anyone that way since the death of his wife, Jess. He knew Carol liked him for him, and not what he could give her.

She sighed and sipped her brandy, things were slowly changing with them. Daryl was usually hard to get on with at times, yet once you slipped under his walls he had erected he was one of the easiest men to get along with, her best friend. Yet for the past few weeks he had been impatient. Rude and downright unpleasant with her. Last week had completely gotten out of hand, when one of Daryl's cowboys had drunk on the job and made a blatant pass at Carol.

Carol had always been friendly with Bob – not flirt , just friendly. But whilst she had waited for Daryl at the stables, Bob had suddenly grabbed her and tried to kiss her. Daryl had come out of nowhere and sent the man flying to the hard ground with one powerful blow.

"GET OUT" Daryl had growled at Bob"Draw your pay and don't ever set foot on Woodbury again!"

Carol, standing shocked and tongue-tied a little distance away, had just stared at Daryl as if she had never seen him before. With his blue eyes blazing, his fist clenched next to his sides, his face set in stone, he was suddenly a stranger to her. Her easy-going, pleasant, friend, she had known for the last two years, had vanished.

Daryl hadn't said a word while Bob picked himself up from the ground, Bob glared at Carol and stormed toward the ranch office.

"I... thank you" was all she could stammer, she hadn't realised Bob had drunk, until too late and if Daryl had not come along anything could have happened. He finally looked at her, hand bruised and his eyes still blazing with anger

"Will you never fucking learn?" he demanded."There is a fucking difference between friendly and being a whore"

"I wasn't" she protested "Bob has always been nice to me I thought..."

"He was a good man sober" he shot back at her."I hate to lose him" he continued as he checked the mess of his hand.

"Don't blame me" she spoke softly, putting out her hand to touch the softness of his tanned forearm, to sooth his anger. The muscle in his arm contracted as if she had hit him, she felt him tense up , she always knew he never liked her to touch him, but this was bad even for him, yet she hadn't expected what he'd done an angry curse, he caught her by the wrist his fingers hurting, and forcibly removed her hand.

"Don't think you'll wrap me around your fingers Pixie" he's said harshly, giving her the nickname, he called her the moment they met, because to him she looked like one

"From now on keep your distance from my men, If you are looking for a little excitement, look for it in town not on my ranch"

That had brought her temper up, his harsh words had hurt, but being accused of enticing his ranch hands was more than she could stand.

"It'll be my pleasure to stay off your ranch, Daryl Dixon" she'd flung at him, her blues eyes spitting sparks at him.

"You've been hell to get on with lately anyhow,And I wasn't trying to wrap you around my finger, I was trying to thank you" Without another word, she'd stomped off toward her car and they hadn't spoken since.

Now though she was feeling repentant and she wanted to make up. But that money-hungry little blonde made it impossible to approach him, and Daryl wasn't even trying to push her off.

The worst of it all was Beth was well-known for her habit of stalking wealthy older men. She wondered if Daryl even cared about the company he was keeping.? Couldn't he see through that pathetic behaviour she did?. Carol scowled as his head bowed back down to Beth, an ache deep inside her made her aware, it wasn't one she wanted to name.

"Don't look now mouse, but you are glaring" came the familiar voice of Merle, Daryl's older brother and her long time friend, she saw the mischief in his eyes, he was always up for pulling down Daryl, teasing him, berating him, all in good fun of course.

"Is that what I am doing Merle? didn't even know" she shrugged her shoulders and took another sip of her drink.

"You have no reason to be jealous of her, you know that don't you?" he murmured

"Merle, Daryl and I are friends, nothing more" her back was up, at his words

"You keep telling me that mouse" he agreed "And course a wonderful, beautiful woman like you, would never lie"

"You Merle are good for my ego" she half smiled at him. He was so unlike his younger brother, his was taller, heavier built, the eyes were the same, yet Merle always held a permit smirk on his face. His hair cut short, almost military style, which made it look was more laid back, whilst Daryl was more defensive at times, both so different.

"So mouse would you care to hang the rest of the night with me? I can see Maggie is itching for you to get on that dance floor, so shall we join the gang, or you going to sit here and have your heart-broken by my brother, who can't see what I do" Carol had almost missed his question as she saw Beth crawl over Daryl

"If that girl gets any closer, she could climb inside his shirt" she mumbled

"Put your claws away sweetie, come on let's go on the dance floor" he placed his arm around her shoulders guiding her towards the gang. She had enough, placing her drink on the side, she shrugged Merle off and headed towards Daryl.

"Mouse, where you going?" he could see this blowing up, and she so didn't need the wrong publicity

"I am going to save him from that leech!" Waving at the gang on the floor, she moved closer to the two adult, standing in front of them, she ignored Beth.

"Are we speaking?" was all Carol asked, her face void of emotion. "If not then nod your head and I will go away and carry on as if I don't know you". That would have made him laugh before, but his face was like granite.

"I am surprised you could tear yourself away from my brother" he said in a deep, cool, drawl.

"His name is Merle, and I don't make a habit of ignoring people when they speak to me" she replied venomously

"That works both ways sweetheart " he reminded her as he looked down his nose. "I don't run after women, I don't have to, unlike my brother" he added with malice and a glance toward Carol.

Carol's temper was rising, she tried to hold it back, her eyes turned to Beth, who was talking to another group, her back now to them

"She has a reputation you know, she got jilted by her latest conquest and I hear she's looking for a larger wallet"

A slight frown appeared on his face as he watched her "Don't mind paying for what I want, not as if I can't afford it "

How she wanted to cry for him, he had never believed that a woman would want him for himself, he seemed completely unaware of his own attractiveness. She studied his face, his eyes, his nose, his lips, shocked when the thought came through of what would it feel like if he kissed her..."

"You're looking hard there Pixie, what you looking for? Kinks in the armour?" he whispered, "You won't find any?"

"Are you sure?" she replied, moving closer on purpose. His shirt was open at the neck, she knew that it led to a taut body, sprinkling of hairs on his chest, down his stomach, Her face reddened, his closeness making her knees going weak. Lately she ached to touch him with a hunger that she had never felt before. And he had made it obvious that he didn't want her in that way. Even now he was removing her fingers from him, she was unaware she had even touched him

"You flirting with me now pixie?" he murmured

"Who me?"

"Don't worry, I won't take you up on it" he replied in a deep angry tone "I have two years of practice keeping my distance"

She met his cold eyes, and felt his words go through her. "You know how I feel..."

He drew an impatient breath

"For fuck's sake Carol, one bad experience isn't any excuse for becoming a nun"

"God aren't you a bear with a sore head lately, Daryl, if you are hungry, go eat some food, I don't feel like being nibbled on tonight" she turned to walk away but he caught her arm, as usual the touch of his warm strong fingers on her bare skin caused her heart to race and her breath to catch.

"Don't run from me" he said at her ear. He was so close she could feel the heat and power of his body against the length of her back.

"I don't know what else to do, you're ice-cold with me, you act as if you can't bare me around and draw back every time I touch you" her troubled eyes met his "I thought we were friends Daryl"

He looked into her eyes " We are bare with me pixie"

"something is bothering you Daryl, I care about you, Tell me what is wrong, Can't you tell me what it is?" she almost begged

"You, are the last person I can tell pixie" he said, his hand touching her soft curls

"Why don't you dye it?"

"Why, and shock everyone with a new colour?"

"I dare you"

"Not tonight Daryl, I am not up to shocking anyone tonight, My head hurts, I'm so tired and all I want is to go home" she added with a sigh

"Then why don't you?"

"Walk out on my party, when I have been here only an hour. Now that would be very impolite"

"To hell with them, let me drive you home"

"And leave Beth ?" she asked with a pointed glance towards the woman, who was now openly glaring at both of them

"No thanks Daryl I will get Merle to take me" It was the wrong thing to say she saw that immediately. His eyes went from blue to a deep navy.

"Like hell you will" he growled, suddenly he bent and swung her easily up in his arms, a move so unexpected she gasped out in shock

"Close your eyes and moan" he said his tone commanding her to do as he ordered. As she did her best to ignore the tremors running through her body, at being in his arms.

"What's wrong with Carol?" Lori asked, followed by Rick, Andrea, even Merle was near him.

"Overworking. I'm driving her home she fainted, with exhaustion"

"Uh good night them " came their various replies, the girls confirming they would call her tomorrow to see how she was. He moved through the crowd and they were outside before she knew it.

"You can open your eyes now" Daryl murmured in a soft teasing voice

She did staring up at him "You are pretty strong " The words slipped out before she could stop them, embarrassing herself. He laughed which was a rare sound these days.

"I ain't over the hill honey, and nobody can call me a desk boy"

She shifted her arms around his neck feeling him stiffen as her breast brushed closer

"That was a good idea " she said with a smile

"Well nobody can say much about a woman fainting" he replied

"Oh my god" her shock clear

"What now woman?"

"What if they think I am going home with you?"