It's morning and Michonne is sitting outside admiring the beauty of the quiet and stillness. Carl is playing with Judith farther off in the yard. She's smiling on them. She takes a deep breath and is surprised to smell morning dew instead of rotting flesh. She thanks The Maker out loud for second chances.
"I never thought that I'd be so lucky." Rick whispered as he came from inside the house and joined Michonne on the porch. He finished sliding on his black shirt and buttoned it.
Michonne adjusted herself so that Rick could sit beside her on the swing seat. They didn't look at each other. Something had changed while they were on the road. Uncertainty loomed. Uncertainty had taken its place as the fifth member of their improbable family. Perhaps if they had glanced at one another the uncertainty would vanish. Rick and Michonne found comfort in denying what they wouldn't acknowledge. The swing seat began to rock faster.
"There's someone else that I think you should thank." Rick offered.
Michonne tilted her head. "Oh?"
There was a lull in their brief exchange. Both adults reveled in watching the children be children. Neither of them shifted their gaze to one another.
"Thank you."
Michonne froze. Carl waved at her and his father. The two adults waved over eagerly as if they were trying to conceal something…as if they had done something to feel guilty.
"Thank you for giving me all of this."
Michonne processed what Rick had said. He was thanking her? Did he realize what he had given her? She remained quiet.
Annoyed, Rick let out a sigh. He plopped his feet down to stop the chair from swinging. They finally looked at one another. Rick and Michonne uttered no words yet they simply knew. Terrified, they promptly returned their attention to the children.
"They call this the Alexandria Safe Zone and I guess there's truth to that. There is safety from the walkers, wild animals, and people like The Governor and Joe."
Michonne wondered where Rick was going with his words. She raked her fingers through her fresh locs.
"But this is a safe zone to start over, to redefine who you are. It's ok to trust, to live, to l-l...
"To love." Michonne finished.
Rick reached over and slid his hand on top of Michonne's.
"To love." He repeated.
They continued to watch the children, their children, play in the yard. No more words were uttered between them during the morning yet Rick and Michonne silently communicated all of their hopes and dreams for their new family. They were beyond ok. They were living.