It was quiet in the house. There was the sound of the clock ticking in the hallway, but other than that, silence. The room was lit by the pale moonlight from the window, which was open and softly stirring the curtains that framed it. He told himself it was open because it was stuffy, and not because he wanted to hear the early warning signs of possible trouble. It was strange to have his own room. It was strange to not be surrounded by all the members of the group, huddled for warmth and comfort on some cold, dusty floor, dirty and stinking.
He certainly didn't miss life on the road. There were no walkers or people to hurt the group. His family. He enjoyed his clean clothing, his shaven jaw, not wondering where the next meal came from. It was just hard pretending that what they had to do to survive wasn't keeping him up at night. It was hard to believe that with all he had seen, Alexandria really was safe.
He sat up in bed and leaned against the headboard, looking out the window at the dark street. He didn't think anyone here could understand what they had been through. He envied them for escaping the cruelty of the new world.
Rick nearly jumped as the door to the bedroom opened.
"Dad?" A hesitant voice called. He looked up to find Carl cradling a sleeping Judith to his chest. They still weren't used to being able to leave her in her crib in Carl's room. Rick acknowledged his son with a nod and patted the bed next to him. Carl sat down, passed the baby to his father, and then stretched out beside him.
"Can't sleep?" He asked in a whisper, casting a sidelong glance to his son.
"Felt strange." Carl replied distantly, pressing a little closer. As they all had had from time to time since settling in Alexandria, a far away look came into his son's eyes, a sight only he could see. It was something Rick wished he could take from him, wished he could carry for him instead.
There was a soft knock on the door. Michonne stood in sweatpants and a t shirt, stolen PJ's from Ricks set of clothing. Not that he minded of course.
"You too?" Rick asked, indicating she could stretch out on his other side. Michonne smiled wearily, patting Carl's foot comfortingly as she walked around the bed, and settled down on the other side of Rick. The three of them sat there, pressed together for comfort, all leaning against the headboard, with Judith sleeping on Rick's lap.
They were safe. So why was being separated so scary?
"We should get some sleep." Michonne said after awhile.
Rick nodded, wordlessly readjusting so that he was laying on the bed rather than sitting. Carl and Michonne were soon to follow, and before long they were all settled comfortably together among the soft blankets.
Judith was now stretched out over Rick's chest, and Carl had turned to face the window to Rick's left. The boy pressed his back into Rick's side, hugging his father's arm to his chest and setting his head on his shoulder. On his other side, Michonne buried her face in the crook of his neck, her arm encircling the sleeping baby girl on his chest, while his was wrapped around her waist. Rick's eyes slipped shut, and he focused on Michonne's deep, calming breaths.
The Grimes' drifted off to sleep, unmolested by nightmares and fears of the unknown.