A/N:

It's been FOREVER since I've posted here. Sorry, guys. With schoolwork, I haven't been able to get ANYTHING done. In the process of writing a book, if that helps at all... hehe.

Anyways, I am an ardent shipper of Rick and Andrea from the TV show. This fanfic is a possible one shot for a more in-depth of "I Ain't a Judas". It was whipped up in like 15 minutes, so.. bear with me. If you review, it will make my week! :D Thank you, guys! (Pssst- If I get enough reviews, this'll be more than a one-shot! I promise!)

The Walking Dead belongs to Kirkman, along with Rick and Andrea. Writing is mine.

Revelations

The ambient air was suffocating. The light held no warmth. And the clatter of flesh eating beasts below possessed not a thread of comfort.

Rick's hands increased their constant grip on the chain link fence, his stare reproachful. Andrea. The center of his vision.

He had scoffed when she had entered the prison, perplexed by her arrival. Why had she come? To jeer? To make a mockery of their claimed establishment? She was toting a walker by the neck, its bloodied jowls snapping and defiant against its captor, Andrea.

Although he was on the fringe of fuming when she had made her hasty descent, he couldn't help but feel a slight tug toward her. A shred of hope that she was alive. Alive! A foreign emotion creep from the corridors of his mind. But he had simply dismissed the possible emotion as a product of the heat of the moment.

Now, Andrea flanked him, stoic. Her blond hair bobbed when she dipped her head, chin grazing her pale chest. He took a moment to examine her arm, ingraining the vision to memory. Bruises. Along her wrist and bicep. And he was the culprit. Why did he feel such self-loathing at that?

His voice was husky when he first made a sound. "Andrea."

It took her a few seconds, for she was most likely lost in thought. At last, she dared meet his steely glare. Tears welled at her eyes, and she batted at them. She had always had her pride.

"Why did you come? Honestly. That boyfriend of yours surely did a fine job of shitting the place up." Rick stated dryly, turning to face her.

For a moment, all was silent. The one sound was generated from the jaws of the walker herd fifty feet away. Then, she spoke.

"He is not my 'boyfriend'. And, to be candid, I had expected a more cheerful reunion." Andrea's tone was cool, her gaze equating the chilliness of her voice.

She was evading the question. He attempted a different angle. Force. "Answer me, Andrea."

"Because of you."

She had emulated his original expectations of an reply. Him? Why him? Of all people?

"What?"

"Because. Of. You." She replied, brutality wavering on her voice.

"Why would you say that, Andrea? I know you hate me..."

"I don't hate you, Rick." She interjected swiftly, averting her eyes. She fingered a lock of hair, tucking it away behind her ear. "You just piss me off sometimes. I'm family, Rick, and you treated me like a stranger- roughing me up like that out there in front of everyone."

Rick's throat yielded no sound.

"It's been what, how long since we've seen each other? How many times did I cross your mind when I was missing?" She awaited a reply, her inquiry stinging. It was faintly poignant, even to Rick. He ducked his head and knitted his eyebrows, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

Andrea knew that stance. He adopted it when he was at a loss of words or reaction. Or when he halted to admit the truth. She sighed. "You didn't send a search party, did you?" Again with the stance.

Andrea threw up her hands in exasperation, shaking her head ruefully. "Why did I even bother coming...?" Her whisper was more to herself than him. "I know you hate me- so why don't you come out and say it? Come on!"

She ran a hasty hand through her pale tresses, beginning to saunter off back into the prison, when his voice solidified her feet to the cement.

"I thought you were dead."

"What?" She turned around, dubious.

Rick looked up. "I thought you were dead, Andrea. I thought if I sent a search party to go back for you, it would be a lost cause. And, truthfully..." He met her gaze, "I couldn't bring myself to believe you were dead."

Andrea's mouth was stark, devoid of moisture. She was stagnant. What could she do?

"Believe me when I say this, Andrea. I don't hate you."

Rick strode over, the familiar clunk of his boots inundating her being with longing. He studied her for a brief moment, his gaze unrelenting. His prolonged stare escalated a howling desire at the back of her mind.

Having no witty retort to volley at him, Andrea nodded and began to slink away. She was two paces when Rick seized her wrist. His gaze was beseeching.

Rick cleared his throat, his smile sheepish. "In fact.. I may even feel an attraction."

His benign words sent a shiver to cascade from her neck to the small of her back. Andrea smirked back and replied, "Likewise."

A/N:

I hope 314 brings more Rick/Andrea moments 3 Please review!