"Son, wake up." Rick shook Carl's shoulder lightly. Carl's eyelids started to flutter, he could tell it was before sunrise as the room was still dark.

"Michonne okay," Carl asked in a sleepy voice.

"She's okay. I need your help." Carl sat up in bed as Rick continued, "I need you to come with me. Get dressed meet me by the car."

Carl nodded silently and got up out of bed. Only 5 minutes later he met Rick at the front gate. He carried his gun, knife, and a backpack with him that contained a few provisions. The unstated definition of dressed. He helped his father load several gas cans into the car and got in the passenger seat. Rick nodded at the gate guard to open and got in the driver's seat.

For several miles, there was silence between the two men, in part due to their vigilance looking for herds of walkers in the predawn. But there was more.

"What's on our mind, Carl?"

"It's nothing." Carl was quiet for a few moments more before adding, "Michonne said not to fantasize about losing."

Rick nodded, then encouraged, "but?"

"But we almost lost her."

"I almost lost you too."

Carl turned to look at his father touched by the acknowledgment.

"Put everything into winning.' We did and our family and friends came to our aid. Almost didn't happen, Carl. But the future? The future is here, communities fighting together. You, your sister, Michonne, we're all still here. We're here and we're going to fight for our future."

A small smile crept across Carl's face. He wouldn't admit it, but nothing gave him more faith in the future than Rick. Hearing his dad ready for the fight again settled his concerns. Their spirits lifted just in time. In the early morning light, they saw a pile-up of cars ahead to begin the siphoning work. Rick would save the difficult conversation for the drive back.

Michonne greeted the men when they returned. When Carl was out of earshot, she asked Rick, "how'd he take it?"

Rick shrugged, "frustrated, but he understands you need his help to defend this place." The two had decided the night before that Carl should stay behind in Alexandria and not attack the Sanctuary. Carl was known to all the Saviors and therefore a dangerous target.

"How are you doin," Rick asked tenderly as he ran his hand softly down her back. He noted how much he liked the look of her in his worn denim.

Michonne sighed and admitted, "not much better than Carl. This was supposed to be our way."

"It is," Rick said. He heard the disappointment in her voice and he felt it too. He would have liked her by his side in the next attack. But she had already fought hard in this war and her winces and shifting posture still showed it.

"Hey, when we were getting gas, I found an sheriff cruiser. And I picked up a little something for you."

Michonne eyebrows knitted with confusion. Rick handed her a gold five-point star badge with the words, "Deputy Sheriff Alexandria" encircled around the the Great Seal of Virginia.

Michonne smiled as she studied the image of lady Virtus holding her sword and spear standing on her defeated enemy. She read aloud the motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannis. Fitting."

"Yeah, I thought so," Rick grinned.

Michonne reached her arms behind her neck and hissed a bit at the pain.

"Wait a minute," Rick interjected as he reached for the back of her neck to undo the clasp. "What are you doing, hon? You never take this off."

"I know," she replied gathering the necklace in her hand and securing the clasp again. "But, if we are doing this together, then I want this with you."

Rick's breath caught in his throat as she placed the delicate necklace in his calloused palm. He rubbed the gold M between his finger and thumb briefly before placing it in the left breast pocket of his shirt. He kissed her softly in gratitude.

"I love you, deputy," he confessed.

"I know, deputy. I love you too."