"This was unexpected."

Michonne led the way and braced the stacked boxes with her hands as Rick blindly pushed the handcart across the property to their van, his line of sight obscured by the towering stack of supplies.

"It was," he said as he huffed out a breath from exertion, "but much needed. Inventory is getting low again, Olivia stopped me on the way out this morning."

She couldn't see the look on his face, but the sound in his voice confirmed that the worry had already set in.

"We'll get there," she assured him as she hit the boxes twice to signal their arrival. He carefully lowered the cart to the ground, and they both stood there for a second to make sure the tower of boxes was secure before walking around the side to meet up. "If everyone else can make it work, so can we," she added once she saw his weary face.

"We will," he said with a quick nod. "Let's get this loaded up, so we can get home. Then I just need to fill up our water bottles and hit the restrooms before we head out."

Home. He'd said the magic word, and now that was all she wanted. Their house, the kids, him, their bed. Home.

"You go, I'll take care of it."

"You sure?"

She grinned and nodded certainly, their easy, unspoken teamwork present, as always, in all facets of their relationship. He grinned at her back, as she'd already turned to start loading supplies, then gave her a quick pat on her backside before turning to jog back to the main building. She smiled at the brief touch, something she loved about their still new relationship, and something she'd been missing all day since they'd been all business during their introduction to The Kingdom. She placed the heavy box of fresh vegetables in the back of the van then turned to grab the next. One down, five to go.

"There you are. The mysterious maiden from Alexandria!"

She jumped slightly at the sound of the booming voice, then let her hands slide off of the box in her grasp as she turned to see the self-proclaimed King of...well, The Kingdom approaching. The older, dread-locked man wore a loud print shirt, topped with a plush robe-like jacket, but had luckily left his scepter and pet tiger behind.

"Ezekiel," she greeted with a nod before turning back around to resume packing. He was apparently amused by her because she could hear him chuckling loudly behind her.

"You are not one for many words, are you?"

She turned with the box in hand to find him watching her with a delighted look.

"I keep to myself, mostly." She dropped the box in the back of the van, and reached for the next without looking up. "I'm also just trying to get this loaded so that we can make it home before dark."

"A beautiful woman like you shouldn't be doing work like this."

Here we go. The uncomfortable dance of an unwelcome advance was the last thing she wanted to do, but that's exactly what this had just turned into. She let out an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes, thankful that her back was to him, then stared into the box of supplies his community had gifted theirs. She certainly didn't want to seem ungrateful, but her feminine attention was not the reward for his kindness. She turned and extended the box out to him with a small grin and watched as he pulled back slightly and pursed his lips instead of taking the box from her.

"Would you like to help?" she asked slowly as she extended the box toward him again. He retreated once more, and clasped his hands then rested them on his belly.

"We have people more suited for this work. I'll summon them for you."

"That's OK." She declined, completely put off by just how far he was taking this entire king act.

Granted, she hadn't watched the news or read a paper in years, but last she knew, there were no monarchies in the United States, and certainly not in rural Virginia. She glanced up at the abandoned high school he called his Kingdom, and laughed to herself, as she placed another box in the van. Who made you King of Anything? she thought. Sure he had walls, free people, and supplies, but there was something about this whole setup that felt more like a man playing dress up than running an actual community.

She continued her task as her admirer looked on, his attention only being pulled away from her as her other half returned.

"Rick! I couldn't let you leave without seeing you off."

"Ah, well, thanks again for everything. And we'll send word about plans through Jesus once we've had a chance to go over things with our people."

"Say no more. I'll expect to hear from our friend, soon."

Rick moved over to Michonne where she stood at the back of the van, shifting the boxes back so they wouldn't slide during the drive.

"Ready whenever you are," he said quietly as he stared at their haul of supplies in the back.

"OK, almost done."

He walked around to the front of the van and opened the driver's side door, hopping in and settling into the seat while he put their freshly filled water bottles in the cupholders in the center console. He glanced up in the rearview mirror to catch a glance at Michonne and check on her progress, but was surprised to find that Ezekiel had sidled up to his girlfriend as soon as he'd left. An amused grin spread on his face, and he slid down into a more comfortable position in his seat, adjusting the mirror as he did so that he could continue to observe.

"It's a shame you're leaving so soon. Promise me that the next time you grace us with your presence, you'll stay for the evening. I think you'd enjoy all we have to offer here."

"Maybe next time," Michonne offered with strained politeness as she shifted her eyes to the ground wishing he would just stop.

"And if I may be so bold, I think that you'd find that we'd quite enjoy each other, as well."

She stubbed the toe of her boot in the dirt as she smarted over his presumption internally.

"And why's that?"

"Just look at us." She crinkled her brow at his response, hoping he wasn't solely referring to their few shared similarities in appearance. "I've never seen a more exquisite beauty in my life, and for us to find each other in this world? It's no accident."

She pressed her lips together, and put her hands on her hips, staring at him for a moment.

"Thank you, Ezekiel," she said evenly, "for the supplies."

"My pleasure," he said in a put-on velvet smooth voice with a broad smile. Undeterred by her disinterest, he reached for her hand and took it in his, guiding it to his mouth to press a kiss on her hand, all the while watching her reaction. "Consider my invitation."

She barely kept her urge to sneer at bay, and pulled her hand away then walked past him to the front of the van. She opened the door, and jumped into her seat, closing it so quickly that Rick had barely registered that she was there. He straightened up in his seat, then pulled his door closed and adjusted the rearview mirror again.

"You ready?" he asked as he glanced back to see Ezekiel still standing behind the van smiling as he faced forward.

"Ready."

"'Cause you can stay if you want," he offered as he glanced over at her, a smirk on his face.

"Asshole," she whispered, shaking her head as she stared ahead.

He started the engine, and they began to drive off toward the main gate. As soon as they left the premises, and she could see the gates closing behind them, she slammed her left fist into his right upper arm.

"Thanks for the help back there."

"I didn't think you needed it," he said in his defense as he switched hands on the steering wheel so that he could use his left hand to rub his bicep.

"No, you were just enjoying the show."

"Little bit," he admitted as he gave up trying to suppress his smile. "I know you can take care of yourself. I've been on the other end of your right hook, and he was about two words away from experiencing that for himself."

"He's so delusional," she groaned as she cupped her hand over her forehead and leaned back into her seat.

"Not completely," Rick countered earning a look from her. "You are exquisite."

"Shut up."

"You are," he said sincerely as he glanced over at her, "but he doesn't even know the half of it. Because you're not only beautiful...you're smarter than anyone I've ever known...strong, tough as all get out," he continued as he did his best to maintain eye contact while looking at the road as infrequently as possible, "...funny as hell. And somehow kinder and more loving than seems possible these days."

He grabbed her hand, mocking King Ezekiel's move, and guided it to his lips to place a kiss on her knuckles, watching her as he did; only her face was soft, and she wore a small smile as she gazed upon him. She didn't pull her hand away; instead, she left it in his and rested their hands on his thigh. She looked out the window as they continued home, and began to recognize landmarks from their earlier reverse commute.

"How far up the road is that gas station we cleared on the way over?"

He glanced down at the odometer and did the math in his head.

"Should be coming up within the next mile or so."

"Good. Let's park when we get there." She stared out of the window a beat longer before looking over to him, a knowing glint of excitement in his eyes.

"I thought you were in a rush to get home before sundown."

"I was…" She trailed off as she began to rub her hand up and down his thigh. "I just wanted to make sure we got some us time, so may as well do it now. Just to be sure."

"Yeah, that's a good idea," he breathed out as his enthusiasm for the idea continued to grow, and his foot applied more pressure to the gas pedal. "Like I said, smartest person I've ever known."