A/N: Anddd I'm back! So this is an interesting experiment for me, because it's my first long AU story, and my first time fulfilling a request for a multi-chapter fic. Soooo. I'm kinda nervous, mostly excited, and really hoping you guys enjoy this. And I'm warning you now that Jessie will be featured in this story. Sorry not sorry in advance? So for everyone who's cool with that, let's take a ride! -Ash

1 - Prologue

Vzzt vzzt, vzzt vzzt.

Rick's phone vibrated against his bedspread just as he'd finished cramming one final item into his small, overstuffed suitcase – a razor he'd gotten from a friend years ago. He smiled as he noted the caller, Michonne Diarra would like FaceTime appearing at the top of the screen; his favorite picture of her staring back at him. With a cursory glance into his dresser mirror, finger-combing his curls into place, he held his phone a courteous few inches from his face and answered the call. "Well good mornin'," he breezily greeted her with a smile in his voice. He noted the way she was dressed in turquoise, with a headscarf colored in different yellows, oranges and blues, and she looked like the embodiment of the tropical island she inhabited, her smile bright as the sun. He was so glad to see her.

"Good morning," she replied in her own chipper tone. Her grin felt wider than usual, perhaps because she was happier than usual, knowing that within a few hours' time, she'd be seeing her friend in person for the first time in a long time. And she was glad that he looked good. Well-rested. Maybe even happy? "You guys all packed and ready to go?"

He chuckled at her peppiness as he turned the camera to his full suitcase for proof before answering. "Just finished."

"Nicely done," she grinned, even noticing how neatly he'd packed his bag with it filled to the brim. "Is that the razor I gave you?"

"It is." He returned the view to himself to continue their conversation, surprised when another familiar face popped into frame, just beside Michonne. His best friend's sister. "Hey, Carol."

She offered a quick wave before pushing her sunglasses up from her face to get a better look at her friend. "Hey, you."

"You look tan," he grinned at the sight of her. She also had a brightly colored scarf wrapped around her short gray hair, and it was clear the ladies were truly embracing the place they now called home, which made him happy to see. "Is this why you don't answer anyone's calls nowadays? Too busy on the beach?"

"I'm sorry, I've actually been rather busy helping run a successful business," she teased, glancing over to Michonne. "Right?"

"That is… right," Michonne confirmed, chuckling at their banter.

"Seriously though, we can't wait to see you," Carol appended, her gaze turning earnest.

"We can't wait to see you," Rick returned, finding himself staring at Michonne as she rested her arm on Carol's shoulder. He literally shook his head, attempting to relinquish his daze. "Atlanta just hasn't been the same without you."

Carol offered her warm grin in reply as she asked, "What time does your flight get in?"

"Right around four-thirty," he nodded, envisioning the times printed on his family's tickets. "We're on the same flight with Shane and Andrea."

"4:26," Michonne submitted. She'd etched the time into her mind the first time Rick told her. "I'll be there in my ugly little van."

"Well," Carol cleared her throat, noting the incessant smiles being exchanged between Rick and Michonne, "I have a little munchkin to teach, so I'm gonna leave you two to it."

"I'll be there soon," Michonne promised as she watched her friend hop up. "And please tell him that that entire multiplication worksheet better be done when I get there."

"Yes, Ms. Diarra."

"Stop calling me that."

"Okay, Mom."

Rick chuckled at their conversation, imagining this as their regular routine nowadays, and he waited for Carol to disappear before continuing with their own discussion. "Besides apparently not doin' his homework, how is Andre?"

"Oh, he's good," she grinned like the proud mom that she was. "He's really good, aside from this whole thing we have going on with his math lessons."

"What's the 'thing'?" he prodded. "He doesn't like it?"

"He hates it, Rick."

"Well that sounds a lot like you," he laughed, "so you can't really blame him."

"I know. It makes it so frustrating, because I know exactly how he feels, but I still have to be tough on him." She shook her head at the situation, but quickly shifted gears to his side of the equation. "Anyway. Where are my babies?"

Rick couldn't help but smile at the way Michonne always referred to her godchildren as her own. Of course, he knew she meant it in a playful way, but it was exactly why he and Lori had chosen her in the first place. They knew she would love them with everything she had. As hers. "They're both probably somewhere on some device," he said, sauntering across his giant bedroom to head into their hallway. "Carl!" he called into the house. "Judith!"

Immediately, he heard the sound of little feet racing across their hardwood floors, and he chuckled as his daughter appeared, sporting one of the bathing suits he'd packed in her suitcase. "Yes, Daddy?"

"What are you wearin'?"

"You said we were going to the beach," Judith reminded him. "So I put on my bathing suit."

"Okay, well we're gettin' on a plane first, so I need you to get dressed in your regular clothes, sweetheart."

"Daddy," she sighed dramatically, resting her hands on her hips.

Just then, Carl came meandering into the hallway with his mouth full of food, oblivious to the situation at hand. "What's up?"

"Michonne wanted to say hello," he commented, passing his iPhone to Judith first. "Say hi and then go change," he quietly instructed her. "I laid out the clothes on your dresser."

She happily took the phone into her little hands, brightly smiling when she saw the image of her godmother staring back at her. "Hi, Auntie!"

"Hey, chickpea!" Michonne cooed, already giggling at the way Judith held the phone much too close to her adorable face. "I can't wait to see you today!"

"Me too," she nodded excitedly. "Daddy said you have a beach."

"Well the beach belongs to everyone," she laughed, "but it is right outside here." She hopped up from her chair and walked over to one of her many balconies, where Judith would be able to see the ocean in the background. "It's like my front yard."

"Wow," the five-year-old beamed at the gorgeous sight.

"Judith, go get dressed," Carl cut in, wanting to talk to his godmother before it was time to go.

"I'm on the phone," she frowned up at him, offended that he dared to interrupt her.

"Dad said to go change."

"Okay, okay," she sighed again, begrudgingly looking back at the phone in her hands. "I have to go, Auntie."

Michonne chuckled at her disappointment, but made sure to keep her tone cheerful. "All right, sweetie. I'll see you in just a few hours, okay?"

"Okay!" She waved back at her as Carl took the phone, and she gleefully scampered off to her room, knowing that she would see her extended family soon enough.

"She's such a weirdo," Carl commented, raising the phone to his face.

Michonne grinned back at him, happy to see her buddy again for the first time in nearly a month. She marveled at the way he looked more and more like his mother every time she laid eyes on him. "You leave your sister alone," she pretended to scold him, despite her expression betraying her. "How are you?"

"I'm good," he nodded, blindly making his way down the hallway, back to his own room. "Mostly just glad to be out of school for a few weeks."

"Oh, so you're not excited to see me?"

"Of course I am," he frowned. "If it weren't for you, I'd be complaining about having to spend my whole Christmas break away from all my friends."

"Oh, woe is you," she playfully rolled her eyes at him. "Only a teenager would complain about spending two weeks in Anguilla."

He chuckled in response even though she was making fun of him – she had a habit of doing that, he'd noticed. "How 'bout you, how are you and Andre?"

"Oh, we're really good," she assured him. "It's busy around here this time of year, so for the past few weeks, I've just been trying to get everything ready for all you guys."

"Dad said you were shutting the whole place down for us," he recalled with a small frown. "Is that gonna be bad for business?"

"Well it probably won't help," she admitted, smiling, "but we've been very lucky that people seem to love the place. And we're booked through next August, so…"

"Whoa, that's awesome."

"It is." Michonne's smile turned a bit somber then, inwardly wishing Lori could've been there to see it happen - it was half her idea, after all. But at least her children would get to enjoy it, she figured. It could be theirs someday if they wanted it. "So is there anything you need while you're down here? Any snacks I should stock up on?"

"Well I definitely need my Cinn-"

"Besides Cinnamon Toast Crunch," she cut him off, knowing all too well that the kid wouldn't eat anything else for breakfast. "I have that in spades, just for you."

"Well I'm good then," he smiled, satisfied.

"You sure?" she began to tease. "Because it looks like I need to find some clippers to take to that head."

Carl chuckled again, having already figured that she was going to give him shit about his long hair. He hadn't cut it in several months, much to his dad's chagrin, too. "I'm not cutting it, Michonne."

"What? Like, ever?"

"For as long as Dad will let me."

"Lord," she shook her head at the idea of him walking around with that mop of hair. "We'll have to talk about that when you get here."

"Okay, but... I have something else I wanna talk to you about while I'm there."

"Okay..." Michonne immediately turned serious, frowning at his strange change in tone, paired with the words that came along with it. "Is everything all right?"

"Everything is fine," Carl nodded. "It's just something I'd rather talk to you about than with my dad."

She shrugged, trying her best to keep up her cool aunt persona, though his secrecy was making it difficult. "If you say everything is okay, I guess I have to believe you."

"Yep, you do."

"So are you all packed?" she asked, attempting to peer into his room in the background.

"And ready to go." He spun the phone to show her his zipped suitcase and backpack, his laptop sitting on top of the latter as it finished charging. "I think we're leaving pretty soon."

"All right," she sighed, satisfied with the scene at hand. "Take me back to your dad so I can make sure he has everything, too."

Carl smirked at her instruction, knowing she was the one person left in the world that could and would successfully keep his father on track. He headed out of his room and across the landing to where his dad's was situated. "All right, Michonne, I'll see ya later."

Rick was busy getting his carry-on situation situated, pulling the final trip item from his fireplace before turning back to his approaching son.

"She wants to talk to you again," Carl informed him, handing over the phone.

"Thank you," he nodded. "Do me a favor and get you and your sister's stuff downstairs. I'm gonna get an Uber soon as I finish up in here."

"Okay, Dad."

Rick watched as his son left the room, quickly and self-consciously brushing his hair back once more before facing Michonne again with a smile. "Hey."

"Hey. I just wanted to make sure you didn't forget the most important thing," she declared a bit cryptically. And she wasn't sure why, considering everyone, including the kids, knew exactly what was going on that week.

"Yes, I have our passports," he joked, figuring she probably wasn't referring to that.

She rolled her eyes, not wanting to laugh at his dorkiness, yet she was unable to help herself, even in what should've been a serious moment. But she sobered herself in order to get to the point. "I meant her ashes, Rick."

"Yeah," he nodded, staring at the small airplane-friendly urn sitting on his bed. "Just got them off the mantle."

"Okay." She gazed back at him sympathetically, taking in his thoughtful expression. She wondered what was on his mind with all this, and couldn't wait for him to get down there so they could truly talk. The way they used to. "I can't believe I get you guys for two whole weeks." She tried to be bubbly and happy again, but it was clear they were both thinking about Lori now, and it wasn't going away.

"I've been lookin' forward to this for a while now," he agreed. "It'll be good to be with you again."

She offered a small smile in reply, but a strange feeling came over her as his words settled into her mind. Not quite butterflies, but something akin to it. She was excited to spend time with all her friends, but there was an undeniable yet unexpected elation, a giddiness about getting to see Rick. "Umm, so I guess I'll let you go?" she finished awkwardly, unsure how to cap off the conversation in light of her small epiphany.

"I'll call you soon as we land."

"And I'll be there at 4:26," she nodded.

He found himself smiling again, just as his doorbell rang, and he wanted so badly to ignore it, not wanting to rush the end of his call with Michonne, and he wasn't entirely sure why. Their interactions lately always seemed to be that way, though – he was always left wanting more. "I should get that," he said, his tone dipped in disappointment.

Michonne nodded again, waving just her fingers in an attempt at a casual goodbye. "Have a safe flight."

"Have a good morning," he nodded back. "See you soon." He was slow to end the call as he headed out of his room, peeking over the balcony of the steps to view the visitor Carl had let into the house. It was their neighbor and friend, Jessie, looking like she'd just come from one of her daily runs. "Hey," he called down to her.

She glanced up to the sound of his voice, an instant, wide grin on her face at the sight of his. "Hey, Rick," she waved. "Missed you on our run today."

He chuckled, trying and failing to think of something witty to say in response. "Yeah, we're about to head out in a couple of minutes, so…"

"I see that," she nodded, taking a glance at the kids' suitcases at the door. "Makes me wish I was leaving today."

"Well… just another week and you will be."

"No, I know," she granted with a nod. She was still in such disbelief that Rick Grimes had invited her on this trip with all his friends, she wasn't quite sure how to act around him. Stumbling over words and constantly putting her foot in her mouth. "Besides, the weather's been so nice here lately, who'd wanna leave?"

Rick cocked his head to the side, unsure of quite how to respond to that one at all. "Yeah, I guess that's true..."

"That came out wrong," she shook her head, smiling bashfully. "I can't wait to join you guys. I just mean… I can wait."

He laughed awkwardly, noting that she seemed nervous for some reason, which was making him the same. "I'm gonna – I'm gonna grab my bag," he said, pointing back into his bedroom. "I'll be right down."

Jessie nodded again, watching as he disappeared and she was left only with Rick's son, who'd been standing there, simply observing, it seemed. "So I guess I'll get to hang out with you next week, too," she submitted, her eyebrows raised in mild excitement.

"Guess so," he answered flatly. He hated when she tried to make small talk with him, which was something she did often, so he was quick to excuse himself from the situation. "I'm gonna make sure Judith's ready," he mumbled before dashing off.

Back upstairs, Rick was staring at the bags on his bed, and more specifically, the one containing the remains of his wife, feeling frozen in place as he contemplated what he was about to do. He'd been both dreading and anticipating this trip for months now, because the idea of saying this final goodbye to Lori felt freeing. And because he knew himself well enough to know that he didn't necessarily want to be free. But after two years, he probably needed to be.

With a giant sigh and a stray tear that he quickly wiped away, he zipped up his carry-on bag and hoisted it onto his back before picking up his suitcase. "Here we go."