Carol set watching as the constant fluid energy that was always with Daryl was at an all time high. He couldn't set still and he couldn't do what he wanted. He'd told her he wanted to take off into the woods for a while just to clear his mind. Before she could even protest he was shaking his head and looking to where Mac had built his place and saying that his brother would hunt him down. He'd said something about stripping and clipping wings but she couldn't make sense of it since have of it was muttered.
Daryl was setting on his leather chair that was made for one but damn well big enough for three. He was leaning forward his elbows on his knees and his hands steepled in front his face. His face was a hard mask of pensive anger and she knew he was brooding over Sophia and Shane. It was one thing for Shane to lash out at him but she knew the moment Shane had put his hands on her that Daryl was about to blow his top. But when things had got out of hand earlier and Sophia specifically cried for him there was no doubt in her mind that he would do anything for her daughter. She had never seen someone move so fast. For as fast as his twin was Mac couldn't keep up with him and Daryl had left him behind.
She wasn't even sure if Daryl realized exactly what Sophia had called him yesterday. Carol wanted to ask and wanted to know how he felt about it. There was a dozen things running through her mind but she didn't know how to approach him on it. He looked more than upset and the thought of adding anything else to that pile made her physically sick.
Carol stepped out of the room and made her way to the room that was now her daughters. She found it hard to believe that in such a short time her world had been completely changed. Not just the walkers or abuse. It was the lack there of. For all the death and loss around her in this world she was safe, her baby girl was safe and she had Daryl. She had finally found the missing piece to her world that just made everything click and feel complete.
When Sophia didn't even stir she slipped back out of the room and shut the door mutely. Hopefully she was resting peacefully enough that she would sleep through the night. She doubted Daryl would and she knew that his brothers were likely brooding just as much right now. Andrea had already stopped by to give her Sophia's stuff from in the house and told her that she had to drag Mac back to the house twice already. He was upset at the thought of his brother being upset and then he was downright pissed at the thought of Sophia having been in Shane's arms. Merle had come out here regardless of anyones wishes and spoke to his brother.
He'd stayed for an hour talking low and only to Daryl. She didn't feel put out by it at all she was happy he was. The longer Merle talked to him the more she could watch the tension leave his body. He'd told her once that Merle was older than him and Mac and had always took on more of a role of a father than a brother. He'd snorted telling her stories of Merle jumping down Mac's throat for getting arrested at sixteen for public intoxication and how somehow Mac had drug him into and they'd both got bitched out. He'd told her stories of Merle being gone and things that had happened but even when it was sad there was a fondness in the way he spoke of his oldest brother.
That wasn't saying Merle hadn't given him shit. Carol had been witness to that herself with the way they were together. Merle would give him down the road and he'd snap back just as Merle's arm fell over his shoulder and he started laughing. It was a sight to see and she knew she was getting a glimpse into the Dixons and Daryl that not many others had.
Carol walked over as the fire lit him in an eerie glow making his face seem more angry than anything. He didn't move when she got near and she paused waiting to see if he wanted company. He wasn't a man of many words but if you paid attention then you knew exactly where you stood with him. He leaned back giving her room to move and she climbed right into the chair with him. He didn't even stiffen like he had the first time she done this and she took it as a good sign.
Carol leaned into him and he lifted his arm and she settled against his side. Her body curved to his and he relaxed more and she leaned her head against his chest and she felt his chin rest on her head. Carol rubbed his side and just let herself relax into him while he finally loosened up some.
"How you feel?" Carol spoke softly her voice barely above a whisper. She let her finger trace his side where she knew he was hurt.
He didn't bitch like he had at Merle earlier when Merle had told him he didn't need to pack Sophia with his side hurt. Daryl had all but bit Merle's head off and wouldn't even respond with how he was feeling after that.
"Fine." His voice was just as low but gruff.
Carol sighed, "No pain?"
He ran his hand up her back under her shirt and she felt his fingers trace over her spine and then ribs. "None."
Carol smiled and traced his side finally letting her fingers trace the bandage, "So none at all?"
Daryl growled and she laughed kissing his chest getting him to settle. She was messing with him and she it amused her to see that she could get him to answer where Merle couldn't. Carol yawned against him and he pulled his hand from under her shirt his rough fingers just barely grazing her skin as he done so. Carol frowned and he shifted.
"You should sleep."
Carol set up all the way and looked down at his reclined position and grabbed his hand hauling him up with her. She wasn't going to let him stay in here and sulk. Daryl stood up and checked the fire before following her down the hall. Carol stopped at Sophia's door and opened it looking in on her. She felt Daryl come up behind her his hand catching the door and pushing it wider so he could see her. His chest was touching her back and Carol was hit again with the surreal realization that she'd never once shared a moment like this with Ed. Never. He'd never looked in on their child with or without her. He just didn't care.
Daryl's chin rested on top of her head again, "She okay?"
"She will be."
Daryl nodded and the action forced her to nod with him which got a chuckle from him. Carol swallowed thickly and caught his hand again pulling him tighter to her and wrapping his arm around her. He stepped in closer to her and she was pressed fully to his body as his other arm came around her and he held her there.
"Can I ask you something Daryl?"
He didn't answer right off and she felt his grip tighten on her slightly before he relaxed. "Sure."
"You do realize what she called you today don't you?"
Daryl didn't stiffen but she felt his breathing change and she had her answer. He'd heard her. He'd heard her and even though it wasn't his name being screamed he'd taken off for her little girl. Carol had assumed he'd thought she said his name and took off but apparently it wasn't that.
"Yeah." His voice was low.
Carol wanted to turn and look at his face but he pulled Sophia's door shut suddenly and started walking down the hall. She was left to follow after him. He was setting on the bed when she got in there and he was studying his hands. He flexed his fingers and she shut the door behind her. His eyes barely lifted to hers for a second before they went back to the floor.
"Does it bother you?" Carol needed to know.
Daryl shook his head and cleared his throat, "No...it isn't that."
"Then what?" She walked forward stopping in front of him.
"Just didn't expect it or think that she would ever think something like that." Daryl looked up at her then.
Carol smiled at him and leaned down kissing him. He responded immediately his hand grabbing the backs of her thighs and pulling her into his lap. Carol nodded against him and his arms banded around her. He buried his head in her neck and breathed deeply.
"She loves you Daryl." Carol smiled at the memory of Sophia's explanation of how Mac was her uncle and she laughed, "She's been calling Mac her uncle. She apparently has all these little explanations for things."
Daryl snorted against her and she felt his hands slide up the back of her shirt. Carol lifted her arms and let him tug it over her head. She beat him to the clasp of her bra and pulled it down her arm's leaving her upper body bare. He slid his hands up her sides and around her ribs his thumbs stroking over her skin gently even as his hands continued to climb.
Carol leaned in kissing him again and through him off-balance. Daryl fell backwards and she followed him down her own hands working his shirt open and running her hands over his chest. He groaned and she rolled her hips into his and moaned at the feeling of his erection pressed against her so intimately. Carol wanted him but paused realizing he still had stitches and pulled away from him.
A flash of hurt went through his eyes and she shook her head at him, "I want this Daryl but your side..."
He set up his elbows bracing him and looked at her his eyes darker than ever and pupils blow wide, "Fuck my goddamn side Carol."
He grabbed her and flipped them over pinning her below him and kissing her more urgently. He was working her jeans open and the second they were there his hand slid inside and straight to her heat. Carol gasped and grabbed him by the back of his neck holding him there as he teased her. She growled when her jeans were restricting his movement and lifted her hips shoving her pants down her hips. Daryl set back and caught them and pulled them the rest of the way from her body and was back on her just as quick.
She whined when she felt his hand leave her but the sound of his own jeans coming open had her nodding frantically and pushing at his shirt. She didn't think she could wait and knew he was right there with her. She swallowed and watched as his jeans slid down his hips and then off as he stood up and discarded the rest of his clothes leaving him just as bare as her. She had seen him like this before but it felt different this time knowing that they were finally going to sleep together.
Daryl's mouth hit right on her center and he kissed her his tongue dipping into he before he started kissing his way up her body. She set up watching him her chest heaving as he waited on him. When he got to her throat he nipped her and she jerked turning her head giving him more room. Carol lifted her leg and hooked it over his hip and gripped him pulling him towards her gently. He let her guide him where she wanted him and they both let out a breath when he pushed into her for the first time.
Carol met his eyes and smiled up at him and she watched him swallow before he gave her a shy smile. There bodies moved together unrushed and she was fighting to keep quiet with Sophia just down the hall. Every time she started getting louder Daryl's mouth would cover hers and she would feel him smiling into the kiss. She was close and knew he was almost there with her. After all the tension and build up between them she was on edge pulsing and around him and breathing in the moment.
Laying in the bed next to him Carol struggled to get her breath back and she looked over seeing him staring up at the ceiling slightly wide-eyed. Carol rolled towards him and pulled the blanket it up over them as the air-cooled their sweat slicked bodies. Daryl let it settled around his waist and Carol shifted closer to him as he adjusted his pillows and flopped back again. He looked over at her and lifted his arm and she took the hint and moved into the comfort of his body and he wrapped his arm around her.
Carol let her hand rub soothing over his chest as his done the same to her fingers were brushing down her spine as his breathing evened out and calmed down. He wasn't tense for once and she relaxed against him the heat of his body warming her back up.
"It doesn't bother me Carol." Daryl's voice was hoarse and low, "Her callin' me that but does she even realize she done it?"
Carol smiled and yawned, "I'm not sure Daryl but it don't make a difference. You've done more for my little girl then her own father ever did."