Caroline woke up the next morning with a splitting headache and a mouth that felt like she had swallowed a bunch of cotton. Slowly opening her eyes, she groaned as the sun shined through the windows. Not remembering right away what had happened the night before, she sat up and her eyes widened when she recognized the bedroom she was in. Oh God, no this is not happening! Caroline thought, looking over to see Chris sleeping peacefully next to her. "Shit." She hissed, quickly getting out of bed and grabbing her clothes off the floor. Racing down the stairs as she got dressed along the way, she looked around for her car and suddenly remembered that she had left it at the bar. "Oh, this just keeps getting better and better!"

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Dusty heard the front door opened and jumped off the couch as Caroline walked into the house. "Where the hell have you been?!"

Caroline groaned and dropped her purse on the coffee table. "What did do? Stay up all night?"

"Almost. Now stop avoiding the question...where the hell have you been?"

"Dusty you do realize that I am the older sister, right?" Caroline asked as she went out into the kitchen and grabbed a glass out of the cupboard, pouring herself a glass of orange juice and grabbing the bottle of aspirin. She popped two in her mouth and washed them down with the orange juice, leaning against the counter and looking at her sister. "Does it really matter where I was? I'm here now."

"You're damn right it matters! You left here to go to a bar last night and you never came back! I tried calling and texting you all night but never got any answer...I was worried sick about you!'

Caroline pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and saw that she indeed had multiple missed calls and unread texts. "Shit, I'm sorry sis. I got really wasted and passed out in the nearest bed I could find."

"You went home with some stranger?!" Dusty exclaimed, staring at her sister in shock.

"What? No! I was wasted but not that wasted Jesus Dusty!"

"Then where the hell did you spend the night?"

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Aleister walked into the kitchen and saw the panicked look on Caroline's face. "What's going on?"

Dusty turned around and saw her husband standing there and she couldn't help but smile a little. "Caroline just got back after being gone all night and I'm trying to find out where the hell she was."

"Baby she's a grown woman which means she can stay out all night if she wants, leave her be. Why don't you go see if Lennon's awake while I try to find us something for breakfast."

"But..."

"Dusty, go baby." Aleister said and she sighed as she walked over to kiss him.

"Fine...bossy ass." She mumbled, yelping when he swatted her on the ass.

"You love it. Now go." He said, watching her as she walked into the living room and walked upstairs before turning to look at Caroline. "Long night?"

"Yeah, got wasted and passed out." Caroline replied, looking at him in confusion when he scoffed. "What?"

"You look really worn out this morning...must have been one knockout of a night, huh?" Aleister questioned, smirking as he watched the realization dawn in her eyes.

"How the hell?"

"He texted me late last night to tell me you were at his place and said not to worry about it."

"Fuck." Caroline groaned, walking over to the table and sitting down. "You can't say anything...please Aleister."

"I won't, don't worry about it. You two work things out?" He asked as he turned the coffee maker on and went over to sit down at the table across from her.

"No and I don t know if we ever will either. Last night was...a one-time mistake."

"Was it really a mistake? He does love you Caroline."

"Please don't defend him to me. You know the hell that he put me through." She said and he nodded as he sat back in the chair.

"I'm well aware of what you went through but I'm also aware of what he went through too."

"Whatever he went through was his own damn fault! I did nothing to force him to turn to that...thing. He made the decision all on his own."

"He's a man and in defense of all men...sometimes we do stupid shit and him getting involved with her was his stupid shit but that doesn't mean that he doesn't love you and it also doesn't mean that you can't work things out. Do you love him?" Aleister held up his hand, stopping her before she could say anything. "Don't bother trying to lie to me either because I know you well enough to know when you're lying."

"Whether or not I love him doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does. If you love him then that means there's still a chance that you two can work this shit out." Aleister got up and walked over to pour himself a cup of coffee, holding up the pot and looking at Caroline. "Want some?"

"Please." Caroline took the mug when he brought it over and took a drink. "Of course I still love him but he broke my heart into a million pieces that I've just now managed to pick up and put back together...I don't know if I can go through all that again."

"You don't know that things are going to go the same way and you won't ever know unless you try."

"When did you turn into Dr. Phil?" Caroline asked, dodging when he wadded a napkin up and threw it at her.

"Smartass. Chris is one of my best friends and you're my wife's sister so I care a great deal about you both and I just want to see you both happy."

"So what do you suggest I do?"

"Go back to his place and talk to him. Stop running from him and tell him exactly what's on your mind."

"I don't know Aleister."

He sighed and took another drink of coffee before standing up. "You asked for my advice and I gave it. I'm going upstairs and see what's taking Dusty so long...do with my advice what you will." Aleister said, putting his coffee mug in the sink before walking out of the kitchen.

Caroline sat there for a minute thinking about everything Aleister had just said. Sighing, she stood up and walked over to put her mug in the sink before walking into the living room. She grabbed her purse and car keys and walked out of the house.