Chapter 25

A/N: Usually the terrible situations end in the next chapter. Well it didn't this time, did it! Haha! Suckers! Anyway, enjoy!
McBrideReedusLover.~

Carol woke up and tried to stretch, but she couldn't. She opened her eyes to see Daryl, his face inches from her. He was still asleep. She looked and saw that Daryl's arms were around her. They must have moved sometime in the night. Her heart was beating very fast, and she didn't know if she should move or just stay like this. Afterall, it may be the only time she'll be in his arms for a while, if not forever. She sighed, and decided to stay. Carol rested her head back on the pillow, and closed her eyes, enjoying his arms around her.
Daryl had been awake for quite some time now. He woke up and found himself very close to Carol. He didn't know when this happened, or when his arms found their way around her. Regardless, he decided to stay there for a while. He planned on getting up before she woke up, but when he felt her move, he froze. He couldn't get up now, it would be very awkward. Then he felt her relax again. What was he going to do now? Inside, he was panicing. Reluctantly, he removed his arms from her waist, and sat up in the bed. He looked over at Carol who now had her eyes open. Daryl could feel his face growing hot. "Sorry." He muttered, and hurried out of the room.

Carol sat on the couch, the baby in her arms. She smiled down at the infant as she drank the bottle slowly. Little Judith was one of the only good things left in this world. "Is that good sweetheart?" Carol said quietly to Judith. She felt someone sit on the couch beside her, she expected it to be Faith or maybe Beth, but to her surprise, it was Daryl.
"How is she?" Daryl said quietly. Right now, things between them were very awkward. Daryl didn't feel anger towards her anymore, now he just felt nervous and scared. He wasn't big enough to apolagize to her.
"She's good. You want to hold her?" Carol put the now empty bottle on the coffee table. She noticed a small nod from Daryl. Carefully, she placed the young one in his arms.
"Yeah, hey lil asskicker." Carol smiled at his words. She let out a small laugh. It wasn't until they made eye contact that she realized how close she was to him. Just like this morning, their faces were inches apart. Carol quickly stood up, straightening her shirt.
"I better go start lunch." She said quietly, and headed off in the opposite direction. Daryl watched her leave, and then looked down at the baby.
"I really screwed up, didn't I?" He sighed.
"Yeah, you did." Daryl looked up as Faith stood infront of him, her arms crossed. "I doubt you even realize how much you hurt her." Faith narrowed her eyes. Daryl was about to speak, but she put her hand out. "No, you're going to listen to me. She hasn't been the same since you two fought. I can't even really talk to her anymore, she's always so distant. When she moved to my cell, I heard her crying. She denied it, but I know what I heard. When you called her a stupid bitch, she walked off, very hurt. She pretended that it didn't affect her, but it did. If you think she's okay with this, the tension between you two, she isn't, and I doubt you are either. So why don't you just man up and apolagize to her for your stupidity." She had to use all she had not to slap him across the face. She was angry at Daryl for hurting Carol the way her had. She just hoped that her little speech would make him realize. Without saying another word, she walked off, leaving a very shocked Daryl behind.

Daryl walked around outside, thinking about what Faith said. Had he really hurt her that bad? He really had screwed up. He did the one thing he vowed not to do, and that was hurt the woman he loved. He still didn't have the guts to apolagize to her.
Daryl stopped as he spotted something in the distance. He walked towards it, wanting to know if he was correct. He knelt down by the bush. He was right. It was a bush of Cherokee Roses. He thought for a moment, then carefully picked one. He looked back at the house, and then stood up. Taking his time, he walked back to the house, the Cherokee Rose tucked in his jacket.

Daryl wasn't sure where Carol was, which right now, was a good thing. He didn't want to see her, and he didn't want her to see him. He looked through the cupboards until he found an old glass bottle. He reached up and grabbed it, and walked to the sink. He filled the bottle up, and placed the rose inside. Since he wasn't good with words, he thought he would atleast show her he wasn't angry with her. Quietly, he walked up the stairs, and into their room. He stopped as he saw Carol on the bed. Thankfully, she was asleep. She looked so tired, and sad. Carefully, he placed the bottle on the dresser beside her. He stood there for a moment, just watching her. With a sigh, he turned around, and left the room.

Carol blinked her eyes open. She only meant to close her eyes for a minute, but a minute turned into an hour. "Damn.." She sighed, and stood up. She was about to leave the room when something caught her eye. "What.." She walked over to the dresser and saw a very familiar flower in a glass bottle. She picked it up, tears forming in her eyes. "A Cherokee Rose.." She smiled, a single tear running down her cheek. He still cared. She wondered if this was his way of apolagizing. She didn't want to jump to any conclusions, but she couldn't help feeling that it was. She also wondered what changed his mind? He was always so stubborn. It didn't matter, all that mattered was he cared. Gently, Carol placed the bottle back on the dresser, and walked out of the room.

A/N: Well, thought I'd put a little something cheery in it! You know! Hope you enjoyed reading that! :) Please, R&R lovelies!
McBrideReedusLover.~