Carol laid stretched out on the grass, looking up at a starry sky. It was a breezy summers night but not cold which Carol was grateful for. She was supposed to be on watch but the house they were staying in was gated all the way round, the house was like a mini mansion. Everyone was grateful for the space but if Carol was honest she didn't like sleeping alone. I mean some of the group naturally shared a room, Rick with Judith and sometimes Carl, Glenn and Maggie, Sasha and Bob, Carol just couldn't sleep without knowing someone was there with her.
She gazed up at the stars trying to work out constellations squinting her eyes and tilting her head a little. When she couldn't work any out asides a Ryan's Belt she closed her eyes and let out a small sigh. Suddenly the moonlight shining down on her was blocked, she opened her eyes to see a dark figure towering over her. She let out a yelp and scrambled backwards getting up as fast as her body would let her, knife in hand.
She felt a surge of relief as she saw the crossbow on the figures back.
"Jesus fucking christ Daryl, what the fuck?" Carol exclaimed putting her knife back.
"Thought you could use some company, didn't realise you were sleepin' on the job," Daryl replied sniggering.
"It's not fucking funny, I nearly had a heart attack, I thought that was it for me."
Daryl snorted, "pfft don't be so melodramatic, dear lord."
Carol sat back where she was before directly in front of Daryl's feet, "I wasn't sleeping on the job," she corrected, "I was stargazing but I couldn't work any constellations out."
"Ah well when your eyes are closed it makes it a little more difficult to see them," he said, his voice oozing in sarcasm as he sat down next to her.
She punched his arm lightly, "I was resting my eyes for a second."
"That's how people fall asleep on the job," Daryl said sarcastically again.
"Are you literally just out here to annoy me?"
Daryl chuckled, "I'm sorry alright I'll stop."
"Good," Carol responded rubbing her heavy eyes.
Daryl glanced over and saw her yawn her eyes barely managing to stay open.
"Hey do you want to go get some rest, I'll stay out here and keep watch?" Daryl offered.
Carol thought about it and shook her head, "no it's fine, no point."
"Watcha mean no point?"
Carol hesitated, not sure whether to tell him.
Daryl saw the doubt in her eyes, "come on Carol you can tell me."
Carol looked back at him, "I can't sleep alone, I hate this house, I can't get a moments rest knowing no one is there, I love all the extra space we have but I just…I just can't be alone."
Daryl nodded, "I get that, hell that's one of the reasons I'm up now."
Carol leant her head on his shoulder but Daryl didn't flinch like he used to, it was calming to him now, he was comfortable with Carol.
He lowered his shoulder a little so Carol wasn't leaning up and tilted his head towards the stars.
"So you don't know what any of this shit means?" he asked.
"I used to," Carol said lying back against the grass.
Daryl joined her and gazed up at the billions of twinkling dots in the sky.
"There's a shooting star," Daryl said a little too excitedly pointing towards the sky.
Carol smiled, "make a wish," she whispered.
"Pfft," Daryl scoffed, smiling afterwards.
They spend an hour or so stargazing, Carol telling Daryl everything she could remember about the different constellations before she eventually began to drift off to sleep. She began flinching as she fell asleep waking herself up, forgetting someone was there with her. After the fourth time of it happening she sat up in frustration and ran a hand over her face. She glimpsed at Daryl who was leant up on one elbow looking directly at her.
"Bad dream?" Daryl asked.
Carol nodded wordlessly feeling the exhaustion take over again, "my body still seems to think I'm alone."
Daryl thought for a moment and then patted the spot directly beside him.
"What?" Carol asked.
"Come 'ere," he mumbled awkwardly.
"Okay," Carol said slowly, filling the space between them.
"Now, uh, lie down," Daryl said lying back.
Carol paused to smile at him but then did as he said, resting her head on his shoulder, her arm slung across him, gripping the material on the other side.
Daryl shifted and gave a nervous cough, "better?"
"Much, thank you," Carol said allowing her eyes to close and fell almost immediately into a sleep.
"Good," Daryl murmured kissing the top of her head gently, then going back to gaze at the stars.
