It was a strange thing, waking up next to Daryl Dixon, even stranger still that his right arm was wrapped around her waist, pulling her in closer to him. Carol's head ached and her mouth was dry and yet it was the greatest she had felt in a really long time. She was being held by Daryl, actually held, and not restricted like the last time she was in his arms the day they had found Sophia in the barn...

The mere thought of Sophia caused the familiar dull ache she felt to intensify and she found herself biting down on her bottom lip in an attempt to repress the tears, but as she lay there in the dark, wrapped up in Daryl's arms, she felt herself coming undone...

She cried quietly, hoping that her shoulders shaking as she sobbed wouldn't wake Daryl.

"Carol?"

She squinted into the darkness and noticed his eyes were open.

"What's wrong?" He asked, sitting up slightly, he kept his arm around her waist.

"I'm bein' stupid." She whispered, though even as she said it she continued to cry.

"If somethin's upsettin' you, then it ain't stupid."

Carol shrugged in the minimal space she had and let out a shaky sigh, "Just thinkin' about Sophia."

Daryl nodded his head, silently willing her to continue.

"I don't think I ever thanked you properly."

"There's no need." Daryl told her quietly, he picked up his free hand and brushed his fingers softly against her cheek.

She closed her eyes and leant into his hand, his calloused fingers were cool on her flushed cheeks. "There's every need." She mumbled.

Daryl sucked in a breath and withdrew his hand, "There ain't."

"Daryl you did so much..."

"But in the end, it didn't matter." He mumbled adjusting his hand on her waist.

"It'll always matter to me." Carol breathed, she wiped in vain at the tears that were freely falling from her eyes and fixed her gaze on Daryl's mouth. She would have only had to move a few inches and her lips would have been on his. "Thank you."

Daryl nodded once and swallowed hard, it was fair to say that whatever fluffy feelings he was experiencing had everything to do with the half a bottle of champagne he'd drank. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head in attempt to dispel the thoughts he was having.

"What's wrong?" She asked softly, noting how uncomfortable he suddenly seemed.

He moved his arm from around her waist and shuffled a little closer to the wall and further away from Carol, she instantly missed him. "Nothin'." He mumbled.

"You've gone all standoffish – is it because I mentioned Sophia?"

"No, not at all," Daryl replied quickly, he didn't want her to ever feel like she couldn't talk to him, "We can talk about Sophia all night if you wanna."

Carol brushed the last few tears off her cheeks and held his steady gaze, "And you wouldn't mind?"

Daryl shook his head, "No." He seemed to visibly relax as he lay back on the bottom bunk, head on his upturned hands. "We can talk about whatever you want."