The sun was just high enough to pour into the room through the gap in the curtain. Carol groaned as she rolled over and the strip of light invaded her eyes causing her to squeeze them tighter shut.

She could feel the steady throb in her head right in behind her eye socket that made her not ready to face the world yet. She grumbled and rolled back over, burying her head in what she thought was her pillow. As she inhaled deeply she was met by a comforting musky woodsy smell and a hint of aftershave, something with a kick of spice. Her eyes snapped open despite the welcoming scent that seemed to want to engulf her. She braced herself on her arms, looking down at a pillow that was not her own.

The snort behind her caused her to spin around, pushing herself further up the bed.

"Hey hey," Daryl said soothingly holding his hands up, seeing the pure panic in her eyes, "it's okay."

Carol let out a small sigh as she gave herself a moment to try and remember how their night had gone, well apparently if she had ended up in his bed. God that was a stupid move. She remembered bits and pieces of the night, remembered how cosy Michonne looked with that Rick, remembered how much she drank. She looked down at herself and frowned seeing that she was still fully dressed, they didn't sleep together then?

She looked back up at Daryl waiting for an explanation.

Daryl let out a laugh, "not remember last night? Damn, didn't think you drank that much."

"Why am I here?" Carol asked her hands still clutched in the bedsheets.

"It was closer, you were quite drunk, you needed to get to bed," Daryl chuckled, standing up from the seat in the corner of the room.

"How's your head?" he asked sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Feels like it's been hammered like a nail," she said weakly rubbing her temples.

"Got ya painkillers," he said motioning over to the bedside table where a glass of water along with some aspirin were set.

She smiled a little before thanking him and picking up the painkillers.

"Did we," she paused to take her painkillers, considering her words carefully, "did anything happen, you know, between us?"

Daryl shook his head, "I wouldn't have taken advantage like that."

Carol smiled at that and rested her hand over his briefly, "thank you."

"Not what you were sayin' last night," he smirked.

Carol's eyes flicked up to meet his, "what do you mean?"

"You were quite, um, upset, no no not upset, angry that I said that last night," he said.

Carol's eyes widened a little, "oh god, Daryl I'm so sorry, I don't drink very often, you should of just dropped me home if I was acting like that."

Daryl shook his head, "it's fine, it was more amusing than anything, you're cute when you're mad."

Carol went to interject but then stopped at the last part of his sentence, raising a brow at him, "you thought I was cute?"

"Well yeah," Daryl said rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

He watched as she looked down at herself, her expression changing.

"What?" he asked quietly.

Carol cast a sideways glance and shrugged her shoulders a little, "didn't exactly wear this get up to be considered cute."

"Oh I know that," Daryl responded quicker than he probably should of.

That got a smirk out of Carol as she watched Daryl's cheeks flush red.

There was a moment of silence as Daryl recovered himself, "you want breakfast?" he asked.

Carol smiled at him, "I'd like that."

"Alright," Daryl smiled back standing up, "bathroom's down the hall if you need to throw up."

Carol frowned at him as he shot her a quick grin before shutting the door behind him.

She collapsed back down on the bed and sighed, this was not how she planned on the night going, she hadn't even kissed the guy and she'd already ended up in his bed. The more she remembered the more she just wanted to roll back over and go to sleep. She remembered how flirty Daryl had been, how every time he touched it felt like an electric shock to her system. She remembered how flirty she was right back, she'd never been that forward with someone before, she definitely got some sort of thrill from it like none other.

She had to force herself to stand to get herself out of her thoughts from the night before, this was such a weird situation to be in. Where did they go from here, would he ask her out on an actual date? Would the way she acted last night scare him off? Honestly she wouldn't blame him. She was a stubborn drunken mess.

She shook her head as if it was going to get rid of her doubts and stepped out into Daryl's hallway, coming into contact with a solid form with a thud.

"Shit, sorry," Carol said, looking up expecting to see Daryl.

Any more words she had in her throat were stuck when she saw a broad man with dark curls grinning down at her.

"Not a problem little darlin'," he drawled giving her a quick once over.

Her jaw clenched a little as she side stepped away from him, pulling down at the hem of her dress.

"Little over dressed for breakfast aren't we?" he said sucking his teeth.

Carol opened her mouth to say something but was silenced when Daryl was by her side.

"Back off Merle, the fuck you doin' here anyway, thought you were up state?" Daryl asked placing himself in front of Carol.

"Got back last night, came home to see my little brother didn't I? Wasn't to know you had company, it's a damn first," Merle snorted.

"Fuck off," Daryl grunted.

Carol could see the tension rolling off Daryl, it had obviously been a while since he'd last seen his brother, his brother who was now gazing over his shoulder at Carol. She looked down at the floor not knowing what else she could do, she wanted to tell him where to shove it but she wouldn't do that, not when she was in his house.

"Merle I'm serious, back the fuck off," Daryl snapped seeing him stare at Carol, his accent coming through thick.

"Cool it little brother, pussy cat over there's too tame for my liking," he chuckled.

Carol's eyes shot up sharply to meet his, her gaze not wavering this time as her jaw clenched.

Merle was the first to look away, snorting to himself, "maybe not," he said turning on his heel as he walked back to his bedroom.

Carol's jaw remained clenched until Daryl turned to face her.

"Asshole," he muttered as he looked down at her, "you okay?"

She tried to release some of the tension in her and nodded, "yeah, fine…so your brother, he's, um, something else huh?"

Daryl shook his head and chuckled quietly, "you have no idea. He's harmless though, crude and forward and an asshole but harmless nonetheless."

"It's okay, I'm not afraid of him, not with you getting all defensive over me, you're cute when you're defensive," she grinned at him as she echoed the words he'd said earlier.

He gave her a small side grin and let the comment slide, "breakfast's ready."