"You gotta stop smokin'" Daryl said pulling Carol out of her stare as she sat on the porch.
"Why? You smoke, no big deal," Carol responded quietly taking another drag.
Daryl snagged the cigarette from her hand, rolling it between his fingers.
Carol reached up trying to take it back from him, "come on Daryl give it."
"You don't need it," he said, stepping backwards as she stood up, trying to grasp it again, "you don't."
Carol could feel the desperation in her chest swell, she did need this, she needed an escape from that room where she spent oh so many sleepless nights.
"Daryl," Carol pressed on, her eyes rolling when he threw it on the ground.
"You wanna talk?" he asked stepping towards her.
She shook her head rubbing her eyes that stung deep within their sockets.
"You wanna sleep?" he asked tilting his head at her.
She sighed running her hands through her hair, "that's the reason I was out here, I can't sleep, I just lay up there, alone in that room and I just think…I just, think."
Daryl stayed quiet for a minute, he knew she needed his help, she finally wanted it, he just wasn't sure how to give it to her.
"Do you want me there?" he asked, completely unsure of himself, maybe she needed to not be alone with her thoughts.
Carol met his eyes, they crinkled at the edges as she gave him a small smile.
"You would be okay with that?" she asked, her voice just as uncertain as his.
"Well yeah if that's what you want, I'm here," Daryl murmured the last bit, looking up at her through his hair.
Carol's hand reached out to squeeze his arm gently, her feather light touch leaving goosebumps in their wake.
Her hand retracted slowly and she let out a long yawn, stretching out her muscles that ached and felt heavy.
"You wanna go up now?" Daryl asked watching her as she fought to keep her eyes wide open.
She hummed a sort of response and made her way back indoors, Daryl following closely behind.
It was the first time Daryl had been in Carol's room since they'd got here, it was relatively basic, nothing too fancy. A lot of her homemaker stuff was lying around, evident that she was still using that to hide behind.
Carol slipped off her shoes pulling out a set of pajamas for her, Daryl couldn't help but pull a face that Carol caught the end of.
"Problem Dixon?" she questioned raising a brow at him looking down at the clothing now set on her bed.
Daryl raised his hands slightly, "no nothin', nothin', just didn't have you down as the kitten pajama wearin' type that's all," he snorted.
"You want me to wear something different?" she asked her brow still raised at him.
Daryl scoffed as he kicked his boots off, "no you wear whatever you're comfortable in-"
"Well you've made me conscious of the cute pink kittens so I guess I'll have to pick something else," Carol interrupted, throwing the pj's to one side.
She settled for something far less out there, a silk long-sleeve navy night shirt with matching shorts, and what she realized when she put them on short shorts.
"Okay I'm dressed," she said after telling Daryl to advert his eyes so she could get changed.
Daryl's eyes sweeped up and down her more than once before he realised she was watching him.
His cheeks flushed red immediately and he cleared his throat before being able speak, "so- I- uh, I'll sleep, y'know, down here," he stuttered gesturing to the floor.
Carol laughed, "Daryl you're not sleeping on the floor, get your ass in bed."
"But-"
"No buts, get in," Carol insisted, hopping into bed opening the quilt on the other side.
Daryl grumbled a little but complied, wriggling his way into the cold sheets.
"Fuck you're cold," Daryl hissed as Carol's leg momentarily brushed his
"Yeah well if someone hadn't made fun of my cat pajamas's maybe I wouldn't of had to result to these skimpy things," Carol teased.
A shiver went down her spine as his hand inadvertently grazed across her thigh.
"Sorry," Daryl cringed as he moved away from her.
"Where do you think you're going, you're the reason I'm this cold, it's your job to keep me warm my little furnace."
He edged back towards her, her cold hands pressing against his sides and his arm went bravely around her back.
A heat went to Daryl's cheeks again as she giggled at him.
"See knew it wouldn't take you long to heat up pookie," she grinned.