"What do you want?"
"A man of honor"
"Rick has honor"
"That's not what I meant" I say frustrated at his misunderstanding.
"Then what did you mean Carol?" he said anger thick in his voice.
"I want you, I want your honor" I say nervously, awaiting his response.
"I don't got no honor" he spat as if it was crazy to think he was worth something.
"Why is it so hard for you to understand that you're needed by the group… by me?" I asked hurt that he couldn't see that I cared for him and so did the group.
"I ain't needed by no one; nothin' would change if I wasn't here, you would be just fine without me" he said attempting to end the conversation, but I wasn't ready to just let him go.
"You are the most important person in our group, nobody would survive without you; I am just a burden to the group" I say suddenly feeling fragile and useless.
"Hey you ain't no burden, you pull a whole lot of weight around here; enough for everyone to know just how important you are" he said surprising me by his sudden defense for me.
"I'm not important I'm just the damaged housewife that cooks and cleans" I found myself saying.
"Hey if anyone is damaged around here it's me" he whispered soothingly, kneeling in front of me.
"Don't say that, you're strong and you have the will to survive which I lost long ago" I say thinking of the times after Sophia's disappearance when I tried several times to 'opt out'.
"No you can't quit on me, you are my only reason to live, the thought of coming back to you keeps me alive" he blurted out realizing what words came out of his mouth a second too late.
I couldn't respond, I was too shocked by hearing the words I have been waiting for my whole life (or a version of them anyways) I finally found the air in my lungs but was interrupted by the loud noise of him clearing his throat.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that" he mumbled quickly and got up to leave but I caught his hand in mine.
"I love you" I said without hesitation, looking up to see his shocked face as his strong exterior crumbled and his walls came down as his lips crushed into mine, only separating for a second for him to whisper "I love you too, so much".