Carol sat for a moment as his words settled inside her. She could not begin to process the fact that the guy who had been one of the main reasons she was in this situation was brothers with the man sitting before her. After a few minutes of silence she got up and went over to the large picture window in the living room. The full moon lit the mountain and the lake with a shimmery silver glow.

He watched as his words played over her features. Her shoulders began to shake as she dropped her head against the cool window pane. Unsure of whether he should go to her or not he got up off the couch and began to walk towards her.

"Stop." She heard his feet stop as she turned to face him. "I need you to give me some time." Her voice waivered as she continued. "I'm not mad or scared. I just need to be by myself for a bit. Please give me tonight and I will be able to talk with you in the morning, ok?"

He nodded as he saw her turn towards the stairs. "I can do that. See you in the morning."

She gave him a small wave and made her way upstairs. He cleaned up their drinks and sat in the firelight as he contemplated what to do next. He hadn't even had a moment to come to the realization that his brother was a killer, but he was also behind all the turmoil the woman he found consuming his thoughts, had been going through.

After Carol had prepared for bed, she climbed in next to Sophia and pulled the covers around by the last few days, she cried as she laid in the dark. She knew, without a doubt, that she held no ill will towards Daryl. He hadn't been in contact with Merle for over fifteen years and she really believed that Daryl would continue to keep her and Sophia safe from Merle and his band of bastards.

This was one of those times that she actually hated Ed and what he had done. Looking back, she had a hard time believing all the crap she put up with while she was married to him. He was a selfish non-man who was violent and lazy. Shaking her head to stop wasting thoughts on him, her mind travelled back to Daryl. He had done more for them in the few weeks they had known each other, than Ed did the whole time they were married.

He woke just as the sky began to lighten with the start of a new day. Taking a few deep breaths, he swung his legs over the bed as he wondered what this day would bring as far as Carol's reaction to what he told her about Merle. He felt anger race through him as he thought of his brother and everything that had happened.

The smell of bacon cooking pulled him from his thoughts as he made his way to the bathroom. After taking care of his business he made his way downstairs. Carol was standing at the counter sipping from her coffee mug as she flipped through a magazine. "Morning," he said as he walked over and pulled a mug from the cupboard.

"Good morning," she replied as she went to the stove to flip the bacon. "How did you sleep?"

"As best as can be expected I suppose."

Turning to face him she stopped suddenly when she realized he wasn't wearing a shirt. Staring at his chest, she saw a smattering of hair and holy hell, he had tattoos! Trying to maintain a straight face she casually brought her eyes up to meet his. She was hoping he couldn't read her mind as she continued to inwardly drool over his ink. As her cheeks flushed she said, "I hope you don't mind I started breakfast. I woke early and needed to do something to keep myself busy." Keep myself from focusing on the fact that the muscles in your arms would feel amazing wrapped around me she wished.

"No, that's great, thanks!"

"Daryl, I don't mean to jump right in, but do you mind if we talk before Sophia wakes up?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me, " he said as he made his way over to the counter and pulled up a stool.

She stood on the far end of the counter so she could keep an eye on the bacon and still be close to him at the same time. "First, thanks for letting me have the evening to think about what you told me."

Carol hesitated and Daryl felt his heart drop as he was sure she was going to ask for someone else to guard them. "I knew that you were estranged from your brother for years before we found any of this out. You don't have anything to do with his life choices and I completely trust you. You have already proven to me that you will take care of us. I never once thought I would want someone else to stay here with us and I am hoping you will."

Exhaling loudly, he answered, "I am still trying to come to terms with what my brother has done." Taking her hand in his, he continued, "I promise that keeping both you and Sophia safe is all I care about. I will choose you over my brother. He may be my blood, but you ladies are my priority."

He reached up and began to caress her cheek when they suddenly heard, "Momma, where are you!?" Laughing at the timing of Sophia, yet again, Carol made her way to the stairs while Daryl went and shut the bacon off.

Happy that the talk was over and neither was worse for the wear, she glanced back and gave Daryl a soft smile as she made her way up to her daughter.