A/N: Just an idea I had; a little S6 speculation going on here, plus some headcanon. Trying to figure out how Morgan is gonna fit into the story now. I will look at the Wolves a little, but not going to be writing epic battle scenes haha Either way, Morgan's gonna be there and he's awesome.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead (but I met Tony Moore that one time at that con, and he doesn't own it either so I'll live…)

Warning: Language and maybe sex…maybe

Rick had a rough few days and the day after he was almost exiled; killed Pete Anderson in cold blood; met his friend Morgan again; and was thoroughly and relentlessly scolded by Michonne was no different. Morgan's arrival had not only brought mixed emotions for Rick, but also news of an impending threat in the Wolves. Rick was surprised to find that his friend had changed so much considering how unhinged he was the last time their paths had crossed. Rick was concerned when his friend informed him he had left the men alive who had threatened to kill him. They were clearly on different pages in the same horrific story. Morgan's losses had shown him that all life is precious; Rick's losses had taught him that if keeping those he cared for safe meant killing others, he would do it without blinking.

Plans had been set to fortify the walls surrounding Alexandria; though some of the locals scoffed at the idea. The repeated cry of 'the walls have protected us for this long' were largely ignored by Rick and his people for they knew what truly lie outside of the walls. They had seen the depravity within humans and despite all that Rick had done to jeopardize their stay in the Safe-Zone, they were not the bad guys; there were worse people in the world than Rick Grimes.

Since Deanna had understandably taken time to grieve her losses Aaron had, with her blessing, asked a few of the new residents to form a small committee to handle the looming threat. He spoke with Michonne, Daryl and Glenn first at his home; Rick was with Morgan.

"So, what's first?" asked Aaron as he closed the door and took his seat at the table.

"We're going to need all hands on deck," Glenn offered. "Your people are gonna need to fight."

Aaron nodded knowingly.

Michonne looked to the door then back at the two men who were talking.

"Are we gonna wait for Rick?" she asked, not wanting to leave him out of the initial planning.

Daryl now looked at Aaron and Glenn as well; they all seemed a little awkward.

"How is he feeling?" Glenn asked.

"He's not bat shit crazy, if that's what you think," said Michonne.

She surprised herself with her snappy retort. Though she knew some of his recent actions were questionable, she would not sit and discuss Rick's mental state at length with anyone else but him; that did not seem right.

"Sorry," she offered, noting the expression her friend wore. "He should still be here to help us plan."

Just then, as if on cue, Rick came through the door with Morgan following closely behind. Rick took a seat next to Michonne, gave her a look that only meant something to them and then proceeded to speak.

"What'd we miss?" he asked.

"Just sayin' that the locals gon have to learn to defend themselves," Daryl proffered.

"Right. Those who are able to fight need to learn how to; hand-to-hand if possible. While we're gonna have to shoot some of these assholes, we don't want to have an all-out gun battle. That'll draw walkers and we sure as hell can't fight on two fronts against the dead and the living," Rick explained.

Michonne nodded her head in agreement.

"Sasha will take out as many as she can from the tower, but we're gonna need to double the people on watch. Use upstairs windows and rooftops if we can; we need to lookout in all directions. We've seen what these people can do. If we can spot them before they get too close, we'll have an advantage," he added.

"We should get some nails or other sharp metal objects and boards and make some tyre shredders as well. Have 'em set up on the roads. Do it under the cover of night in case they're watchin' us, which I guarantee that they are," Michonne said.

"Right," said Rick. "Morgan, can you and Glenn handle the traps and defences? Me and Michonne can start weapons training…"

"No," Michonne said. "I'll help with the traps. Daryl's better with different weapons; he should be with you. I'll go with Glenn or Morgan."

When Michonne had found out what Rick was doing; what he was projecting on that other woman, she was of course disheartened. She had recognized that Rick had reciprocated the attraction she felt, and had hoped that, once they had reached a safe place where they could catch their breath, they could explore their feelings and act on their attraction. The Safe-Zone, however, had triggered some odd behaviour in Rick; behaviour which had caused Michonne hurt. While she was still with him, she was pulling away from him; even though he was seeing clearly again. Maybe she was protecting her feelings; maybe she was just tired. Either way, Rick noticed.

He stared at Michonne as if to wordlessly ask: "What are you doing?"

He knew they worked best as a team, and she usually partnered with him; somehow, he thought she was trying to distance herself from him. Maybe he was being paranoid, but when she avoided his gaze, he knew his inkling was probably right; she did not want to be around him.

"I can handle the traps," said Morgan. "I'm good at it and happy to have you help, Michonne."

She looked at Morgan and nodded firmly; Rick looked at the two of them.

"Fine," Rick then said. "Daryl, you're with me. Aaron, round everyone up for a town hall meeting in about twenty minutes and we'll let 'em know what's what."

With that Rick stood, looked down at Michonne and then walked out the door.

Michonne and Daryl exited Aaron's house at the same time in silence; she was pleased to see him return and he seemed more at ease with being in Alexandria now that he found some purpose. Seeing her friends happy made Michonne happy as she and Daryl shared a small smile. Her smile fell away when she noticed a visibly annoyed Rick Grimes waiting for her.

"You got a minute?" he asked her; Daryl kept walking as Michonne nodded.

"What is it?" she asked, aware that the other men had just walked out of the house and were approaching.

"We good?" Rick queried as he gestured between them.

"Yes," she answered.

"You sure? It seems like you're still pissed at me," Rick stated as he tilted his head to the side.

He could feel the strain; she was avoiding him.

"I said what I had to say, Rick. And I'm still with you," she said quietly as Aaron and Glenn passed and Morgan sat on the step waiting for the pair to finish talking.

"But?" he offered.

"But nothin'. We don't have to be joined at the hip, right?" Michonne countered.

"No we don't," Rick said with a sigh.

Michonne turned and saw Morgan sitting patiently.

"He's waiting. We'll get started on the traps. Good luck with the meeting. If anyone wants to help, send 'em over to the front gate. I'll see you later."

Michonne then motioned for Morgan; she walked away, not waiting for him. He pressed a hand to Rick's shoulder in passing.

xXxXx

Rick stood in front of the small crowd; most of his bandages were removed, his face was clean but his eyes still looked stern and somewhat menacing.

"There's trouble coming," said Aaron as everyone quietened down. "On our last run we came across some of the carnage that was left by a group calling themselves the Wolves. They've been going through communities in their path and destroying them. We're in their path and they're coming."

"What does this mean?" asked someone in the back.

"It means," Rick started. "That we've gotta fight."

A few residents whispered to each other unnerved by Rick's audacity.

"We?" asked someone. "You've been actin' like it's you all and then us. So now it's we? Now we're all together?"

"If you don't want it to be that way, don't let the gate hit you in the ass on your way out. The fact is, you need us and I ain't takin' my family back out there without a fight so either it's us together or y'all are gonna have more problems than these fuckin' Wolves…"

"Rick," Aaron said, getting his attention.

"What Rick's saying is we need to be a united front should they target us, and just so you all know, Deanna has said anyone who doesn't pull their weight in some way is no longer welcome here," Aaron explained.

xXxXx

"You're not from this community, are you? How long have you been with Rick?" Morgan asked as he and Michonne gathered the materials they would need.

She looked at him a little oddly.

"You don't recognize me?" Michonne asked.

Morgan furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes as he strained his memory; he shook his head no.

"I was with Rick when we found you in his home town," she explained.

Morgan raised his eyebrows contemplatively.

"Uh. I thought I dreamed you up. The woman with the sword; that was you?"

"In the flesh," Michonne answered not looking up from what she was doing.

"So, how long have you and Rick been together?" Morgan asked causing Michonne to look up this time.

She glanced at the man before her incredulously.

"We're not together," Michonne answered.

"Oh, I just thought because you all live in the same house and I've seen you with his kids…"

"We're not together," she said more firmly this time.

Michonne really did not want to be discussing what was or was not going on between her and Rick, especially with someone she did not know. Morgan raised both hands apologetically and continued working away.

xXxXx

Rick sat in the corner of the living room of the house he shared with Michonne; the dim light of the small lamp did little to illuminate the room. He checked his watch again; the time read ten forty-five. Rick sighed and rubbed his hand over his mouth. Michonne and Morgan went out to set the traps when the sun had set; they were now overdue. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs; it was Carl.

"Just grabbing a glass of water," the teenager said tiredly. "She not home yet?"

"Nah, not yet. I'm gonna wait up a little longer. Might head on over to Aaron's place see if they told him when they'd be back. You be alright?" said Rick.

"Yeah, all good. Go ask Aaron," Carl replied.

Rick grabbed his windbreaker and threw it on before telling his son to lock the door behind him as Michonne had the key.

…..

Rick approached the front door of Aaron's house, raised his hand to knock but then stopped; from inside, he could hear the faint sounds of laughter. It was Michonne's laughter, he was certain. At once he felt relief wash over him as well as annoyance. His head began to throb.

Why the fuck didn't she come straight home? He thought sourly.

He knocked loudly three times and waited for an answer; he was met by Eric who invited him in. Rick searched the room and did not acknowledge Aaron or Morgan; instead his eyes fell on Michonne who was sitting on the couch. Everyone went quiet like a bunch of teenagers who were caught by an adult doing something they should not have been doing. Aaron was first to speak.

"Hey, Rick. All went well today," the younger man said in an upbeat tone.

Rick looked at Aaron, nodded his head and then glanced back at Michonne.

"When did y'all get back?" Rick asked flatly; his countenance was one of irritation.

Michonne lifted her chin, letting Rick know his steely gaze did not intimidate her as it did to the others.

"Hour or so," she answered, noting that Rick's jaw had clenched.

"Didn't think to, uh I dunno, stop by the fuckin' house, our house and tell me?" he asked scathingly.

Michonne stood and looked around at everyone.

"Thanks for the supper, guys. See you tomorrow," she said and made her way to the door.

Rick said nothing and followed her outside; she walked until she reached the road and then turned to face him.

"What the fuck was that?" She asked, now thoroughly annoyed herself.

Rick kept walking until he was standing right in front of Michonne; his proximity made her heart beat faster.

"I was waitin' for you to come home. Anything could've happened. You didn't think to let me know you were back safe? I was worried somethin' happened to you," he said, trying to keep his voice quiet.

"It was late, Morgan offered me food. I didn't think you'd be all shitty about it…"

"I thought something happened to you," he said more loudly just as Morgan stepped outside.

"Well you didn't have to come over here and speak to me like that, Rick. Don't you ever speak to me like that in front of our friends again. Like I'm your kid who you just caught smoking. You don't get to chastise me…"

"Rick?" Morgan called out.

Slowly, Rick drew his stare from Michonne and looked at the man standing not too far away.

"Sorry, I should've reported back to you right away. It's on me," he said in earnest.

"It's done. Just glad y'all made it back safe," he sighed and looked back to Michonne who was now walking away from him.

He bid Morgan goodnight and then sprinted after Michonne; he caught her gently by the arm indicating he wanted her to slow down.

"It won't happen again. I'm sorry," he proffered.

Michonne glanced over at him.

"I should've let you know we were back. I'm sorry too," she replied.

They began to walk home in silence. Michonne, feeling as if eyes were on her, turned her head and saw Morgan still standing outside watching them.

A/N: Thanks for stopping by.

Thoughts? Comments?

My sister ships Morchonne and it's fuckin' annoying so this is dedicated to her! Haha