Disclaimer: I own nothing but plot.

Key: Regular talk is writing; Flashbacks are in italics; thinking''; talking " ";

Chapter One

As the alarm blared to life, so did the occupant of the bed. As he rubbed his tired blue eyes, he thought of his life and how things had gotten to where they are today, as he did this from time to time. He was 38 years old, divorced, and a firefighter, one of the best in his division, he had awards and plaques to prove it. But he felt empty, what was the point if he had no one to come home to? No one to wrap his arms around, to hold, to make love to every night after being away from them days on end. Someone to cook dinner for, someone who would do the same for him when he was just too bone tired to do anything. He thought he had that in his first marriage, with Lori, his high school sweet heart. In the end he turned out to be dead wrong. The first two years of their marriage was on good terms, they had their occasional fight but it was nothing too serious, something little here and there. But then something happened, something that wasn't them.

Flash Back

Two weeks, that is how long it had been since he last saw Lori, and he felt like shit. He called and talked to her a few times but he knew that it was not enough. So when he finally got the chance to come home, he took it without a second thought. The entire time driving towards the house, all he could think about was holding her and loving her. He pulled into the driveway of the beautiful two story house that was given to him by his parents when they died; Rick being away at college at the time. It was hard for him, but he thought about what his mother would tell him at a time like this "be strong and always trust God's choices". He remember it, even though he disliked God's choice to take his parent's from him. He shook himself from re-living the past, he visited his parents graves every single day for the simple fact of he wanted to, he even talked to them and got "advice" from them. He looked at the house and was surprised to see that none of the lights were on, that was strange; Lori knew he was coming home and she normally leaves a light or two on for him. He exited the truck, his truck which he was so proud of. As he walked to the front door, he realized that the house was freakishly quiet and there was no movement. He was cautious opening his front door; there was much that he hadn't considered when he finished talking with Lori but he figured they would cross that bridge when they came to it or if it was really important to Lori, she would sit him down and actually tell him.

As he walked through the house, he heard the small clinking sounds of glass coming from the kitchen, so that's where he headed. Once he turned the corner and there he saw her with a glass in her hand and a half empty bottle of wine. 'So she's been drinking a while'. Funny thing was, Lori swore she would never drink because of the reason her mother dying in a car accident caused by drinking and driving. He stared at her, confused waiting until she noticed him to say something.

"I know you're there Rick, so what do you want?"- Lori sounded as though she was be annoyed

"Well hello to you too. I though you said you would never drink a day in your life. So what's the special occasion?"-the words flowing from Rick's mouth, thick with that southern drawl

"There isn't any. Just felt like drinking tonight. Is that a crime?"

"No it's not, but don't you find it strange that someone as strong willed as you would break a promise so near and dear to you."

"Yeah well, promises were made to broken."

"Is there something you want to discuss with me?"

"Nope. There's no point, we'd just act like nothing happened anyway."

"We agreed we would talk it out. Never go to bed angry, remember?"

"No, Rick. That was your agreement, not mine. Do you honestly think that I do not go to bed angry just because we agreed to do something to trivial? You are so sad."- Lori looked at him with an expression that was unrecognizable and Rick knew that she was beyond angry.

"What?"

"I said you are sad Rick. In plain terms, you are pathetic. You are so passive aggressive it drives me insane. You let people walk all over you and you don't care. I wonder how you were able to survive into an adult by being so fucking weak?"

"Weak? (he whispers at almost unnoticeably) You think me wanting to help people is weak? You think me going to the nursing home where my grandparents lived and died peacefully is weak? You think by me being a kind hearted person is weak? You think me saying I love is weak?"

"I'm not repeating myself, Rick. You are weak as a fucking infant. You are a fucking weakling infant!"

End of Flash Back

After that argument, Rick and Lori were not on speaking terms. After another six agonizing months, she ended it. He couldn't care less, he was tired of her shit, her putting him down, his lifestyle, his personality, everything that made him who he is, Rick Grimes. He put her out of his parent's house (cause there was no way in hell she was getting the place where his parent's lived in for almost forty years), change everything to how he wanted it, and bought a pet, two actually. The two dogs in reality laying on the bed beside him.

"Max, Lucifer you boys have good dreams?"-Rick said with a check splitting grin on his face

A sort of a smile and a long pink tongue hanging outside the moth with slob just dripping ever so slightly out of their mouths.

"Alright you two, we goin' go out today. So let me up and get ready."

After no response, Rick shoved his way to the bathroom, all the while being followed by eight paws.

"Oh, no. Last time I let you two follow me in here, ya almost sent me to the hospital. I'll be back in ten minutes."-A bark was his only reply along with a wag of max and lucifer's tails before shutting the door

(30 minutes later)…

Rick walks out of his room fully dressed and ready to go when he turns the corner and see's two pairs of brown eyes just looking at him.

"Yeah, yeah I know. I took longer than I said I would. It's not like the two of you are gonna' starve to death." What sounded like a grunt was his only answer. Laughing, he stood up and took food out to feed his boys. After a healthy meal, he and the boys prepared for a stroll into the neighborhood. He thought it was a really beautiful day; nice and sunny with a light breeze that ever so slightly tickled the smallest of hairs upon the human body. He had a good feeling about today, he could feel it.

"C'mon you two. Let's hit the town."

Like I said you guys show me the love(reviews) and I will show you the chapters. xoxo