As soon as the both of them got back to the house Rick found that he was incredibly tired. According to his watch it was nearing on 4 am and he knew that once morning rolls around Deanna will most definitely call him and Michonne in to discuss what went down. Rick glanced over at Michonne, she had barely said a word to him or anyone since Sam had been found.

Michonne started up the stairs to the front porch but Rick stopped her by gently reaching out and tugging on her wrist.

"Michonne," he said, his voice soft, "We need to talk."

Michonne nodded her head and had a seat on one of the porch chairs, she had been expecting this. She knew that Rick would want to speak to her about what she did to Jessie especially since she is the woman that he has been making eyes at since their arrival in Alexandria.

"What's up?" she asked, not quite ready just yet to tell Rick what he wanted to hear.

"I think you know and I want you to tell me why shoved Jessie against a tree and snarled at her husband."

Michonne let out a deep breath, she didn't meet Rick's eyes rather she concentrated her gaze on the flakes of paint she was chipping away at on the arm of the chair.

She stayed quiet, knowing that once she started to open up to this man she wouldn't be able to stop.

"Michonne, please," he begged. He shuffled his boots back and forth on the unscuffed porch in front of their own upper-middle class home. Rick looked down at his hands not meeting her eyes, "I've never seen you lose it like that before, you're always so in control, so cool. And tonight... it just doesn't make any sense to me. Help me make sense of it Michonne?"

Michonne could hear the desperation in his voice, the hurt. They had relied on each other for so long, hell she was his coworker now. "Jessie said I didn't know what it was like to be a mother," she stated, her voice clear and unwavering.

"That doesn't explain your actions Michonne," Rick said, he was staring right at her Michonne felt like his eyes were almost burning a hole right through.

"I think it does Rick, you're a smart man surely you can figure things out."

Rick leaned up against the pillar on the porch and folded his arms in front of his chest. She had been through so much with this man and his family and yet he still barely knows anything about her or her life before.

"I had a son Rick, a baby boy. He was the sweetest thing."

Michonne finally lifted her head and Rick found he had to look away.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" He unfolded his arms and shuffled over to her chair taking the spot next to hers and moving the slightest bit closer.

"When you first met me I wasn't in my right state of mind. I didn't want to forget about my son, I never want that to happen, but I just didn't want to be seen as the crazy woman who just had to put down her own child," Michonne wiped at her eyes, she didn't want Rick to see her cry, she had already lost her control once this morning and once was enough.

"Are you okay now?" Rick asked softly, he was tempted to reach out and place his hand over hers but he held himself back, he was scared that once he started making physical contact with her he wouldn't be able to stop, "I've never seen you react like that, well maybe to the Governor but that.." he trailed off.

"Yeah, maybe I should apologize to Jessie. Just something about her brings out the worst in me," Michonne said then thought she might have said too much, after all it was only a few hours earlier that Rick had been kissing the woman.

"Life here will take some getting used to but we've got each other," Rick responded. Michonne was curious if he met the whole group of them as we or just the two of them.

Michonne took a moment to look out at the yard in front of them, things were so peaceful. There were no walkers, no fear of not having a place to rest their heads and hopefully no one out to kill them for the time being. She glanced over at Rick and saw the he was just as lost in thought or maybe he had simply fallen asleep with his eyes open.

"Rick," she said to get his attention.

"Hm?"

"Thank you for listening to me, for coming here."

"I'm just glad I have you to talk me into doing things I may not want to do," he smiled at her.

"Yeah. Well this is something I want to do that I hope you do too," Michonne said. Rick barely had the time to comprehend her words before she was reaching over and running her fingers across his jaw line. She leaned closer and gently placed her lips against the corner of Rick's mouth, not quite a full on kiss but nonetheless the closest contact they have ever made with each other.

"Michonne," Rick breathed, he reached his hand up to try to bring her in closer but before he had the chance Michonne pulled back and gave him a slight smile.

"It's been a long night Rick."

Rick sat there feeling slightly taken aback, he was unsure of what this thing with Michonne was. If there is potential for something more or just a strong bond connecting the two of them based off trust and dependence for one another. Rick thought that with Michonne initiating that small physical contact he might have a chance to explore how he really feels about her, to test the waters so to speak.

But that would have to be done another time. Michonne held the heavy wooden door open and waited for Rick to come inside.

"Goodnight," she whispered, not wanting to wake Carl, Judith, or Carol from their sleep.

"Night." Rick hadn't had any problem with Michonne sleeping under the same roof with him, in fact it had brought him a sense of comfort knowing she was so close. But now that knowing that only a few thin walls separated her from him was going to be the absolute death of him and he wished he had the courage to do something about it.

XXX

Michonne woke the next morning feeling rested but slightly sore. She remembered the events from the previous night and her thoughts circled back to the kiss she had placed on Rick's cheek. She had taken notice of the way he reacted afterward, he had leaned in wanting to capture her lips with his the second time around but Michonne couldn't have that. He needed to talk to her first, to settle her racing fears to rest. She had witnessed his little interaction with Jessie and Michonne had to know for sure that there was nothing there. She didn't want to be Rick's second choice, his next best since his first pick has a husband and children.

Michonne dressed in a pair of jeans and a loose grey top, she tip toed out so as to not wake Carol from the room they shared. She descended the stairs to find Carl sitting in the kitchen at the island with Judith playing with her toys on the ground beside him.

"What'd you make me for breakfast?" Michonne teased.

"I'm the cook now? I thought that's what you were staying here for," Carl threw right back at her, besting her at her own game.

"You've got some nerve boy," she playfully picked up his hat and ruffled his unruly hair.

Michonne picked up an apple and had a seat on a stool across from Carl. "Where's your dad?" she asked, not seeing him around.

"He already headed out, said he had some things to take care of."

Michonne chewed on her apple and found herself growing peeved with Rick Grimes, "You know where he went too?"

"No, he didn't say," Carl started until Judith began to cry. Carl bent over to pick her up and rocked his baby sister in his arms, "But if I had to guess I think it was to that Doctor's house, I heard Sam ran off."

"That's right," Michonne said distantly, "How long ago did he leave?"

Carl glanced at the grandfather clock in the living room, "Probably about an forty five minutes to an hour ago, it's been a while."

Michonne finished up the rest of her apple and Carl paced back and forth rocking Judith, "I think my dad likes that lady, Jessie's her name right?"

Michonne turned her head to the boy in a quick motion, "What makes you say that?"

Carl noticed the agitation in her voice and was confused by it, "No reason. Just she reminds me of mom, I don't know why exactly. And I think dad sees that too. Maybe he thinks that she can make him better, you know how he was after mom died and all, well not right afterward but you knew him then. Maybe he thinks she'll make things better."

Or worse. Michonne thought to herself. "I've got to go Carl, stay here with your sister and Carol is upstairs if you need here." Michonne grabbed her jacket of the coat rack and ran out the door. She heard a commotion down the street and a crowd gathering. The sounds of fighting could be heard and cries. Michonne neared and the situation came into view, Rick was raving in the street like a mad man, his gun wavering around with Pete bloodied and unconscious on the ground beside him. Jessie was kneeling over her husband's body and as Rick was throwing his hands around Michonne noticed one small detail, he had removed his wedding ring.

Michonne grew heated, Rick was losing it.

That son of a bitch.

XXX

Sorry guys for the wait! I had a lot going on with school (only a few more weeks til summer). I hope to update again soon! Again please forgive me for taking such a long time on getting this chapter up, I'm going to do better I promise!