The first time Daryl's phone alarm went off Carol jumped, whacking him in the head with her elbow and leaving them both groaning. Her head was still pounding and she was pretty sure she might have just given him a bit of a headache too. "Sorry," she mumbled sleepily. "Not used to sharing my bed."
Daryl groaned, moving back to the other side, "We could both end up concussed before this night is over." He scrambled for the phone and shut off the alarm, then fiddled with it for a minute before setting it back down. "Since you woke up so easily I set it for 3 hours this time," he said, flip flopping around, trying to get comfortable again.
The wriggling around was driving her crazy. "Are you done?" Carol grumbled.
"I can't get comfortable," he replied. It sounded whiney and she rolled her eyes. "I was perfectly fine before that alarm went off."
Of course you were, Carol thought, remembering how he'd been snoring gently with her cuddled up against him. When he continued to squirm, keeping her awake she had enough. "Oh for Christ sake, move back over here," she hissed. "If I kick you or elbow you in the head again I am not responsible." She had barely got the words out before he practically bounded back to the warm indent he'd left beside her. It was almost ridiculous how fast he was asleep. Carol leaned her cheek against his back and snuggled in close again.
It was very strange to have a man in her bed – it had been a long time. It was even stranger that it was Daryl and they were cuddling. They had quite an interesting relationship. She loved being around him and loved seeing him at work. They had a wonderful connection, which made their chats flow so easily. But they were very different. Daryl was busy and moody and could be very childish at times - in an adorably cute way that made people love him, yet he didn't really understand why people adore him. Carol was quiet and introspective, but her sense of humor was one of the things that made her and Daryl connect so well. She was far from prudish, she just preferred to listen and absorb, then jump in with a well-timed comment when it was least expected.
They were close friends and could, and had, talk about anything. Carol had heard about everything from Daryl's addiction to chocolate bars to his frequent lady troubles. It amazed her how often he got himself in hot water, but she realized that he was still incredibly naive when it came to women. The fame had fallen into the lap of a man who spent more time alone in the woods than around people and it was taking time for him to adjust.
Carol was sure he was a long way from settling down. But even though he didn't enjoy the celebrity he was happy, and that's all that mattered to her.
Carol sighed contently and fell back asleep. The next time she woke, it wasn't to the alarm, but to a nightmare. She woke with a start. She was sweating and shaking, with tears streaming down her face. Daryl sat up and immediately hugged her. "Shh, it was just a bad dream," he soothed. "I'm here, you're okay." Carol allowed him to hold her until she calmed down. She had relived everything she could remember from the accident, but in the dream it seemed even worse, even more terrifying that it was. Once the worst of the dream had faded from her mind she started to feel silly. It was an accident, you're fine, it's over, she told herself, taking several deep breaths. "Are you alright now?" Daryl asked gently, when she finally stopped shaking.
"Think so," Carol said as he released her so they could lie back down. Her eyes were wide open and Carol was afraid to go back to sleep. He reset the alarm again to give them more time since she had just woke up.
"Roll over," Daryl said, sliding over closer. She looked at him and hesitated. "Just do it," he sighed. "I promise I'll behave," Daryl teased her. It had taken a really long time for him to start flirting with her and Carol was pretty sure she was the only woman he was comfortable enough with to do that. It was a very strange compliment in a way though and it made her smile every time.
She rolled over and he wrapped an arm around her. She knew she was tense and he noticed it too. "Relax and go to sleep," he ordered and Carol obeyed. It was very comforting to be held like that. She had forgot how much so.
The next time the alarm sounded it was morning. It was early, but the light was peeking in through the curtain, indicating it was a bright and sunny day outside. "You alive?" Daryl asked, peeking at her. She nodded, rubbing her eyes. She was still really tired. "Good," he said, kissing her forehead. "You sleep a little longer and I'll make food."
Carol had no idea how much longer she had slept, but she woke to Daryl bringing her a plate of food. She hadn't expected to be hungry after the nausea the night before, but her stomach growled when she smelled what he had brought in. She sat up. Her head still ached, but nothing like it had the last time she was awake. It was getting better, finally. Daryl set the plate on her lap. "Oh my…" she looked down at a beautiful egg white omelette, some fruit and whole wheat toast. "You didn't make this," Carol said, looking up at him with a grin. Daryl could could wild meat on an open fire but cooking in a kitchen was not his forte.
"Nah," he laughed. "I had this delivered from the café down the street." He looked about as proud as he would have if he actually did cook it. "Spinach and feta," he said, pointing at her plate. "I remember the last time we ate there you said it was really good." Carol felt a little flutter in her chest that surprised her almost as much as him remembering what she had ordered months ago.
Daryl had a plate in his hand too. A repulsively delicious looking plate full of bacon, home fries and a gigantic omelet. It annoyed her that he could eat like that and still stay so fit. He did jog and work out, but it still didn't seem fair that women had to work twice as hard at their age.
When they finished eating Carol felt even better. "I really want to shower," she said. The make-up she forgot to remove from the day before was making her really itchy.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea," Daryl said. "What if I run you a bath instead?"
Carol pouted. She really wanted to shower, but she knew he was likely right. At least in the tub she didn't have to stand for a long time. "Okay, fine," she sighed with defeat. When Daryl went into her en suite to start the bath Carol decided to get out of bed. She stood slowly, but even moving that slow caused a wave of dizziness to hit her. She was determined though and she managed to walk to her dresser to find clothes to put on after her bath and make her way into the bathroom. "I like it hot," she said to Daryl's back, as he leaned over the tub.
"Of course you do," he scoffed, turning the hot water on a bit more. "Bubbles?"
"Definitely," Carol replied, watching him add some of her bubble bath to the water.
When he stood and turned his expression changed, "Oh my God, you're so pale. Sit," Daryl insisted, putting the toilet lid down for her to sit.
"I'm perfectly fine," she insisted, taking a seat.
"And perfectly stubborn," he replied. "Listen, you're going to have to let me help you get in and out of the tub."
"Uh… no," Carol replied. "I can do it."
"Stand up and take your pants off then," he said, taking a step backwards to allow her room.
She smiled, "I'm not taking my pants off in front of you."
Daryl smiled back. "If you want in that tub you're going to have to prove to me that you can do it alone. Come on, if you can successfully get outta your pants I'll leave." He crossed his arms with a smirk.
"Oh fine," Carol stood up. It was too fast and she had to grab the countertop to steady herself. He went to reach for her, but she shot him a look and he backed off. She undid the button and unzipped the fly, feeling his eyes on her. "Well can you at least turn around or close your eyes or something?"
Daryl shook his head, "If I do that, how will I catch you when your little ass is about to fall over?" He made a gesture with his hand, "get on with it."
She growled in annoyance. It was more because she knew he was right than anything else. She worked the pants over her hips and pushed them down her legs. So far, so good, Carol thought. All was going well until she realized she was going to have to bend over to pull them off, since trying to kick and pull her foot out was just not working. "Fuck," she muttered under her breath, glancing quickly at Daryl whose smirk was now a full on satisfied grin, which infuriated her. Her stubbornness won over and she made an attempt to lean forward and pull her foot out, while still holding onto the counter. But even leaning forward a tiny bit was enough to cause a wave of dizziness to wash over her once again. She groped with her other hand as the blackness started to take over her vision. In an instant his hand was gripping hers, and Daryl was helping her stand up straight again.
"Don't say it," she glared at him before 'I told you so' could escape his lips. He released her for a second to shut off the taps on the now full tub. Carol looked at the hot water and bubbles and couldn't wait to get in. If she survived the humiliation that was about to occur. "Okay you can help with my pants," she said and Daryl bent to pull them off for her. She had one hand on the counter still and the other on his shoulder. Once the pants were off, she felt her heart start to race.
"I have seen you in a swimsuit, remember?" Daryl said, reminding her of the pool party Tyreese hosted the summer before. He grabbed the bottom of her shirt and pulled it off before she could protest, leaving Carol standing there in only her bra and underwear with a strong desire to find something, anything to cover herself with. She could feel his eyes washing over her body. "Hmm," he said, a little smile on his lips.
"Hmm? What does hmm mean?" Carol asked, still feeling exposed. She was confident about her body and comfortable being naked when it was appropriate to be naked. This situation was just too weird. Daryl wasn't supposed to see her naked, they were friends.
"Hmm means you're, umm, you're hot," he said with a laugh and a blush. When she first met Daryl he never would have said that to her or any woman, but they had got comfortable over time and he had really loosened up around her.
Carol blushed too and then smacked him. "Stop, you're making it worse."
"Oh come on, you know you have a great body," Daryl said, looking her over again even though his cheeks were still pink. "You work hard to keep it that way, just like I do." He knew he was making her uncomfortable. "Okay, I'll keep my eyes closed for the rest. I'll stay close and you hold onto me, but I won't look until you're safely under the bubbles."
"I don't think I have met a man yet who says they will keep their eyes closed and actually does it," Carol sighed. She knew if she wanted in that tub there was a 99.9% chance Daryl was getting a glimpse of her.
"I swear, I won't peek," Daryl replied with a laugh. "Much…" he added. Carol shook her head. At least he was honest, if nothing else, she thought.
He closed his eyes and she quickly pushed down her panties and kicked them aside. Then undid her bra and pulled it off, adding it to the pile of clothes on the floor. She turned her back to him, so if he did look the only thing he was going to see was her ass. "Okay, get me in the tub and get out," she said taking a step forward. Without looking she knew his eyes were on her. "Liar," she muttered.
He didn't respond, he knew he was busted. He held her hand while Carol stepped into the tub. She covered her breasts with the other arm, deciding she wasn't giving him the opportunity to 'accidentally' see her boobs too. The water was perfect and she sunk down into the bubbles, finally relaxing once she was hidden in the suds. "Did you need help washing?" Daryl asked. At first Carol thought it was actually a genuine question, but then she caught the tiniest curl at the corner of his lips.
"You really are enjoying this aren't you?" Carol said, sinking deeper into the bubbles.
"Kinda," he nodded. "But what's not to enjoy?"
"Get out," she laughed. Carol knew she was probably the only person in the world he joked with so freely and she couldn't help but smile. His charm was irritating, especially because he honestly didn't know how charming he really was, yet she couldn't help but find it cute.
"I'll be right out there," Daryl gestured towards the bedroom. "Just yell if you need help, with anything… anything at all…" If Carol had something to throw at him she would have.
When he was finally gone she relaxed for a few minutes before she started to wash her body, then her hair. There was a bump where she hit her head and it was very tender, so she washed gently around it. When the scrubbing was done Carol started to get nervous, realizing she would have to go through the whole process again getting out.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "You ready to get out yet? I have a surprise on the way, but you might want to be dressed before it arrives."
"Yeah come in," Carol said. "What's the surprise?" she asked as soon as he stepped inside.
"You'll see," Daryl said, mysteriously.
"Give me a hint," Carol insisted. She didn't do surprises well.
"Well, I need to go home to shower and change, so I asked someone to come stay with you while I'm gone," Daryl said, grabbing a towel for her.
"Oh," she replied, wondering who it could be. "Is it Rick? Or Glenn? Maggie?" Carol started rhyming off names. He offered a hand and closed his eyes while she stood and stepped out. She grabbed the towel and wrapped it securely around her body. The dizziness seemed a lot better.
"Nope. Stop guessing. It's a surprise," he chastised her.
Carol quickly dried off with Daryl standing close, eyes shut still. She wrapped the towel around herself again. "Can you hand me my clean clothes?" she asked.
He opened his eyes and reached for the pile of clothes. He dug through, found her clean panties and held them up. "These are cute," he commented, examining the black lace.
Carol snatched the panites. "Close em," she commanded him. Thankfully she was able to bend enough by that point to get them on without any help. She really was feeling a lot better for a moment at least. She held the towel in front of herself. "Bra," she said and Daryl, surprisingly, passed it to her without comment. She noticed he opened his eyes permanently though after handing her the clean shirt next.
"Hmm," he said once again, attempting to peek at the back of her to check out the underwear.
"You can look when you help me get my pants on," Carol said, knowing she would need help as the fatigue started to return. It was very annoying to barely be able to get dressed without feeling exhausted. Once her shirt was on Daryl grabbed the comfy joggers she had picked out and bent to help her step in. Instead of letting her pull them up on her own he pulled them up for her as he stood. As he did Daryl's hands brushed over her ass briefly and Carol shivered. She noticed when he stood Daryl adjusted himself. He didn't try to hide it, but he did blush again. It was such a strange contrast, the way he was both bold and shy at the same time.
"Really?" she scoffed. Though she would never admit it she was flattered.
"What?" he shrugged. "I'm a guy, it just happens." Daryl made another quick adjustment and Carol shook her head in amusement. She took a minute to brush her teeth and add some product to her hair. "Ready?" he asked, offering an arm to help her back to bed.
She had just barely got settled back in bed when the doorbell rang. "Oh, your surprise is here," Daryl grinned, leaving to answer it. Carol was dying of curiosity wondering who would be walking into her bedroom. Her face lit up when she saw who it was.
"Hey beautiful, it's been a while," he said, stepping into her room.
"Oh my god, come here," Carol squealed, opening her arms. She hugged him tight and mouthed a silent thank you to Daryl as he waved and left.
