AN –

This is my first Walking Dead fanfic. In addition, as a fan of the graphic novels, I am furious with what the TV show did to Andrea. She was my favorite character from the novels and the TV show did her a disservice.

A special thanks to my awesome friend precious-passenger for the beautiful cover art for this story. She worked hard on it and I'm grateful for her help. An up-and-coming author in her own right, please read her fantastic Glee and Supernatural fanfics. They're really good! Thanks again, precious-passenger!

I hope you all sincerely enjoy my first TWD fanfiction.

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She sneezed.

Behind her, the sheer sound of a katana could be heard as it was pulled out of its scabbard. She knew what would happen next. And she was right.

Plop…plop…

She turned to the right and saw evidence that the threat had been swiftly taken care of. Eyes blinking and mouths opening and closing, two walker heads could be seen in the weeds near Highway 24 in eastern Georgia. She sighed.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

They went on their merry way.

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The sun had just set. After setting her chains around a nearby tree, Michonne determinedly strode up to Andrea, who was seated near their small campfire. The ditch they found themselves in did a pretty good job of hiding them from plain sight and any stray walker could easily be dispatched.

Another typical evening threatened to pass for the two beautiful survivors. But that evening, Andrea had something on her mind.

"Michonne?" Andrea asked, reaching for a can opener.

"Yeah?" the fierce warrior answered. She sat down next to her blonde companion and crossed her legs, Indian-style.

A moment of silence passed as Andrea finally worked the gears of the opener on two cans. Then, like a kid who claimed a prize from a candy machine, she held them up with a little smile on her face.

"Pears? Or beans?"

Michonne returned the little smile with a polite one of her own. "What do you want?"

"Oh no, Michonne!" Andrea replied, smile broadening. "I picked last night. It's your turn tonight."

Michonne chuckled. "When are you gonna learn, blondie, that you always get the first pick?"

Andrea faked being appalled. "What?!"

Michonne fiddled with a loose string on her combat boots. "You heard me…blondie!"

Andrea giggled and dropped the can opener. "Well, since we don't have to watch our figures anymore, I'll take the beans!"

"Girl's night out." Michonne said, looking at her with a sideways glance.

Andrea laughed out loud and then quickly covered her mouth. Even moments of uncontrolled, pure joy had to be suppressed in volume. A walker or two were somewhat easy to take care of, but not a pack. Or God forbid….

A herd.

Andrea handed the can of pears to her friend and then came to a sudden halt.

"Oh! You'll need a spoon. I'll get it!"

Michonne watched her as Andrea jumped up and walked over towards the tree. The chains weren't moving very much despite the walker tied to the end of each one. Her smile dropped a little when she made eye contact with the boy on the left. Human eyes met walker eyes and a dash of unreasonable fear coursed through her. The Boys had proven long ago that they were docile. Plus, with their jaws smashed and arms cut off, there was simply no threat in front of the beautiful blonde woman.

She didn't even want to think about that fear anymore.

Forcing her eyes away, she opened up a portion of the enormous backpack tied to the left-side boy's back. Finding two spoons, she zipped it back up and wordlessly took a few steps away. But quite suddenly, she stopped and turned back to him. Their eyes met again.

"Tonight," Andrea whispered, "I'm gonna find out just who you were that Michonne still keeps you around."

The left boy said nothing, of course. Then, she turned to the right-side boy.

"You too."

The Boys lost interest in their human meal and looked away. Andrea promptly turned and marched back to the campfire, to her friend, to…her life.

Michonne heard Andrea's footsteps as they grew closer, but was surprised when they came to a sudden stop – right behind her.

"Michonne!" Andrea whined.

"What?" Michonne innocently responded. She quickly wiped her pear-laden hands on her dirty jeans.

"Don't eat that with your fingers!"

She chuckled. "And why not?"

Andrea quickly turned and sat down beside her. "I don't think it's a good idea to have Dole Pears with a side of walker brains!"

For the first time in what felt like years, Michonne laughed. Astonished, Andrea watched her, loving how Michonne's laugh sounded like she was singing.

That's when it dawned on them both.

Michonne laughed.

She actually laughed. In the eight months or so that they'd been together, she never heard Michonne laugh. Michonne too was surprised.

"That felt good…" Michonne whispered.

Andrea smiled. Michonne grinned. The fire blazed on.

It was a surprisingly cool night in what must've been late summer. Eastern Georgia is famous for its hot and humid summers and, during the day, this was no exception. But the chill of the night forced the women to wrap themselves up with some thin sheets. Michonne excused herself to urinate and Andrea stretched her long legs towards the campfire. Resting back on her elbows, she shifted her gaze towards the night sky. Orion and possibly Sirius glimmered in the cloudless sky as a contented, belly-full (or, full enough) sigh escaped her lungs.

Despite not really verbalizing it, the women realized they were headed towards the East Coast. If there was any shot at civilization surviving the walker outbreak, chances increased with the thought of it happening on an island or even a secure peninsula. There were several islands there and they were the closest islands they could reach. Ideally, a secluded island would be the perfect place to have a normal life.

Andrea chuckled and thought, if normal life exists on an island, I hope it isn't a 'Lord of The Flies' situation. Her attempt at her own dark humor fell short and she shifted to her right hip, propped by her hand to the side of her head.

Nameless insects chirped and firewood cracked. Otherwise, it was a silent evening. Occasionally at night, the women might hear the typical, emotionless sound of a walker moaning. But not that night. Andrea took it as an additional sign to approach Michonne about The Boys.

As if on cue, Michonne returned. Wiping her hands on the back of her jeans, she plopped into a seated position – elbows rest on her knee caps, feet connected on the ground. Andrea watched her for a moment, silently envious of Michonne's stunning dreadlocks and model-like figure. Michonne must've realized she was being watched. She flipped her head towards the blonde and smiled. Andrea smiled back. But Michonne quickly became curious.

"What?" Michonne asked.

"Nothing." Andrea responded, still smiling and staring.

"What?" Michonne repeated, smile widening.

"I just…" Andrea hesitantly began. And then, she added, "I just can't get over how beautiful you are."

"Oh bullshit."

"It's true!"

"YOU, blondie, are the pretty one. I'm just the muscle."

Andrea truly looked appalled. "NEITHER of us are just anything. And you ARE beautiful." And then, she leaned even closer to the fierce warrior. "We make a good team."

Michonne's voice softened. "Yeah. We do."

A wonderful, comfortable silence filled the air around them. Then, they busied themselves with ordinary tasks – Andrea hurled the empty cans into the woods and took off her shoes. Michonne took off Her Girl – she carefully handled the scabbard and katana like a mother holding an infant. After that was completed, she tended to the campfire and also removed her shoes. Sleepiness slowly began to seep into their bodies when Andrea decided it was time to make her move.

She turned and glanced at The Boys, who seemed to be marching in place a little. She returned her attention to Michonne, who just seemed content and happy.

"The Boys," Andrea casually began, "are restless tonight."

It was as if all the comfortable air had been whooshed away. What was once something akin to joy on Michonne's face was replaced with a fierce scowl and Andrea regretted saying anything at all.

"Did…" Andrea slowly began, "did you know them?"

Michonne fiddled with the campfire a little, a delaying tactic that proved to be way too short. Subtly, she nodded.

"Did you know them well?"

Again, Michonne nodded. But Andrea noticed the pensive and distracted look on her counterpart's face and chose the gentle route with her.

"Do…do you want to talk about it?"

Michonne hesitated and then slowly looked at her. Andrea was nearly bowled over at the sad and angry expression on Michonne's face.

Michonne shook her head and Andrea nodded. For a long moment, neither woman said anything. The campfire crackled and popped now and then.

Suddenly, Michonne whispered, "They deserve what they got."

Surprised, Andrea looked at her and quietly said, "I'm so sorry."

Michonne rapidly blinked several times before getting up and walking into the woods, away from Andrea, away from The Boys, away from…the past.

Andrea sighed. Some time passed and Michonne still hadn't returned. Andrea briefly considered looking for her friend but realized that the introverted fencing champion probably just needed to be alone. So, she granted her request.

Sleep took over. As Andrea's eyelids were closing, she hazily thought about what tomorrow would bring – more walking, more raiding, more East-bound highways. She quickly realized that every single day was exactly the same.

Andrea then fell asleep and Michonne returned, also falling asleep. Had they been a little more alert, they would've sensed a pair of human eyes that had been watching them for the past few hours.

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