A/N: (My 1st Fan fiction Ever) this is a look into what Rick and Michonne might have really been thinking when they met each other. He was definitely not Officer Friendly.

Chapter 1: The Challenge

The moment I met her, I knew I was in trouble. My wife could stand amongst the walkers. She'd show her mesmerizing presence with her flowing white dress. Or, even worse, in wearing the same outfit that she wore when I patted her shoulder instead of showing her love. She maybe knew her time was coming and was scared more of the unknown than the ever present walking dead. Instead of being strong, I pushed her away. I had other thangs to handle.

No. This entity wasn't my torturous regret. Lori did not have dreds, ebony skin, and full lips. Her stare never reached in and looked into my soul. A person who can intimidate you with their all-encompassing eyes without one word spoken could not be real. To top it off, she had formula. The walkers did not even notice -

"Dad!"

Carl broke me out of the trance to make me realize that the walkers were about to attack this person, and yes, we still help people. As I ran with my colt, she hobbled and skillfully slashed a few walkers' heads off. She was injured and was taking off heads. No, she couldn't be real.

I did try to be diplomatic when we first spoke. That diplomacy began with "who are you?" Those eyes pierced through me again. They were her katana and I was another victim. Glen and Maggie were missing. I've lost enough people and didn't need to lose more. There are other thangs I needed to do, besides being interrogated by the interrogated. Her challenge drove me to new depths. My hand dug in her bullet wound to show I could go there with her - I could match that stare. She yelled at me to not touch her again, but I'd go to any lengths to defend my family.

Oscar was dead. Daryl was missing. We got Glenn and Maggie back, but where was that mystery at when we needed her? She just majestically popped up when we already lost some of our own. I could care less about her bleeding forehead or what she was doing. She didn't plea for forgiveness. With those doggone brown eyes she stated, "You need me."

Merle, nobody could stand Merle. Daryl wouldn't be conflicted about that sonnovabitch if they weren't brothers. His words clawed in and twisted any peace you have inside. But those words are usually lined with some truth. When Glen and Michonne went to attack him, I blocked her. And then Merle dropped the bombs: she was cooped up with Andrea (?) and had pet walkers (?!)! Was she a lesbian? Was a lesbian and a dominatrix in the past... Wait... Why did I care?

I wanted to take out some kind of aggression out on her, I can't explain it. Glen and Maggie may have been grateful, but Daryl just left. No matter what, there she still was, this enigma that confused my world. I stared her down and asserted, "We patch you up, and then you are gone!" She needed to go...sending my mad world into further confusion.

Why are moths attracted to flame? I'm not a scientist, but I brought Michonne with my son and me on a trip to gather more ammunition from My town. She demanded that I never touch her. She was deadly with that katana. She never flinched when I stared her down. On that day, she drove the car with my only son in it. I explained to Carl that we had common interests. Sometimes, my elaborate truths slightly cross over to lies.

The room was still when she handed a bullet to me, showing I was in charge. I had to catch myself when she did it. She ate Morgan's food because the mat said "welcome". Her disregard pissed me off, but was cute... When she moved, my eyes followed that...ass. Carl was there. Morgan lost his damn mind. And my eyes were following her every curve. Maybe I lost it too, because I let my son travel off with the mystery. When they came back, he later declared that she was one of us. That's all good, but she dug under my skin, into my soul, and I didn't ask for it.

She did it again, with that angelic face of a killer. "You see things?"

"What?"

"I talk to my dead boyfriend. It happens."

Oh okay, she wasn't gay. Maybe she was bisexual. I didn't know, nor did I care. She did happen to interrupt white gown Lori while she was beckoning me to come to her. I had to rethink thangs a bit.

"You wanna drive?"

"Yea."

"Because I see thangs." When she caught the keys, she gave me the, "things I would do to you look". I had to ignore it; my wife was right there. Truth be told, one thang was standing at attention.

No one ever called me the senator, the mayor, or congressman, because I wasn't a politician. I didn't greet unknown threats with smiles and invited them to drink whiskey, knowing Damn well that they were likely not on my side. This so called "Governor" thought I'd feel something because Michonne stabbed his eye. It really did nothing for me. What got me was to give him her to protect my people. You know what, it was about to happen. One of the best foot soldiers at the prison. That woman who drove me mad with her mystery, who brought a smile to my son's face, was about to be traded off for potential safety. I wrapped a cord around my hand to feel it. Herschel and Daryl couldn't convince me to not do it, but all it took was for Lori to show up, appearing as how I last saw her. She wanted my affection, and I patted the mother of my children and love of my life on the shoulder. Michonne wasn't Lori, but I wanted her.