A/N: Thanks for the feedback everyone! Since I haven't done this in a while, I'll reply to everyone's reviews here:

Severelybabykryptonite: Haha my 73 year old mother calls inanimate objects 'sluts'! Lol "Where's my glasses, I just had the sluts a minute ago."

Nay766: Lol my eyes are watering from your comment about Carol finding some dick of her own!

Guest: Carol's interesting; there's a whole history there with Rick that I think could be explored (from what happened with Sophia to Rick exiling her). I think you're right in that she's giving Rick guidance that's not necessarily the best advice. Another fellow Richonner reminded me that AL said Carol was like Rick's Iago so that's been in the back of my mind while writing this.

focusedOnProsperity: Thank you! I do enjoy writing the drama and smut hehehe

thelisa17: If you like the mirror-sex thing, you should read my one-shot 'Reflections' (if you haven't already). *Yells Everyone! If you like Richonne lemon shots, go read my fic 'Reflections'* lol.

Guestz: Ms Sunshine (love it BTW) gets to have her say in this…

simple1234: I'm sorry for ruining your snack! Lol

courtgirl26: It definitely makes the hiatus go quicker when I'm writing Richonne, so I'm glad I can help you out. Thanks!

Alex311: Aww Michonne is adorable in this, isn't she? Sometimes people just want her to be killing walkers all the time, but I wanna see her get drunk and let fly what she's really thinking because it's something most of us have done. I want her to be able to let down her guard and be vulnerable; but mostly: *screams I want her to be happy*

Kayah16: Yes. Yes; I so eloquently phrased that, didn't I? hahaha I couldn't resist because he was basically offering her the dick :)

HeartoSteel: I'm glad you liked Carl overhearing them. He was trying to be grumpy at them too for coming home intoxicated lol Bless him.

Beautiful77: Hmmm, what will Carl say about all of this? That's gonna be fun to write ;)

Literaturechick: thanks! Yeah it really wasn't cool how much he upset her. I'm going to fix that.

Vmck: I wanna know what you think of Carol after their conversation in this update.

KK: Oh you are so right! They will always be connected; their bond is just too strong. Anyone else they are with (ewww) will always feel like a third wheel around them.

RichonneSlag: Thank you! I am pleased you're loving the Richonne adult situations ;) I usually get lazy writing them so yeah, you guys have been spoiled by me! Ha!

Yari: *high fives* I swear, I felt Carol was being condescending to Team family as well as the ASZ people. Like you've been through so much with these people, yet you keep them out of the loop? Not cool. Rick, Daryl and Carol were putting everyone at risk with their little plan. This is as much about my frustration at that storyline as it is about being pissed at Rick's secretive behaviour.

CherokeeRose: Ha! Awesome! That 'Rick offering the dick to Michonne' line has been very effective. So glad I wrote it in now. Thanks.

Kimyso: thanks! I am going to write about the other people in the ASZ.

Sleepywitchysamurai: for me, coming up with different storylines is a matter of writing down any ideas that I have and fleshing them out later. I'm always writing; I carry notebooks/pens everywhere and write in my notes app on my phone; I never miss the chance to write something down because inspiration is everywhere :)

Okay, we're picking up where we left off. Sorry this is short...

Rick immediately felt a headache coming on as he gestured towards Carol to give him room so he might step out of his house. They stood on the porch as Rick pulled the front door closed. He rubbed the back of his hand over his mouth and then placed both hands at his hips.

"What d'you wanna talk about?" he asked flatly.

"About the plan, Rick. I've come to check that you didn't change your mind," said Carol.

She had thought back to what she had witnessed the night before; there was no doubt in her mind that Rick and Michonne were fucking. She realized that Michonne had a unique influence over the man at the best of times, but when you added sex it changed the dynamic completely.

Rick sighed; he did not want to be having this conversation before he actually spoke with Michonne first. She could very well want to support his plan, but he knew deep down that she would not. He also knew that if Michonne did not want him to go through with it, then he would most likely let that plan fall to the wayside.

"Why'd you need to ask that now? I only spoke to you 'bout it yesterday," Rick said, trying to deflect the questioning back on to Carol.

"Well, I thought that you seemed a little off when I saw you at the dinner party last night; thought you might've had a change of heart. Is everything okay?" Carol questioned while folding her arms.

"Everything's fine, Carol. It's the same as yesterday and the day before," Rick explained.

"I just thought you seemed a little preoccupied with something else…"

"What're you gettin' at? You wanna ask me somethin' well go ahead and spit it out," Rick stated firmly, not in any mood for Carol's little games.

Carol raised both eyebrows and looked down at her feet a moment.

"Fine," she replied and lowered her voice. "Did you tell Michonne yet?"

"No," Rick answered truthfully, mimicking her low tone.

"Why not?" Carol retorted.

"Because I'm waitin' for the right time," answered Rick.

"Well, you'd better find that time soon," she offered.

"Just do your part and don't worry about what I'm doin', okay?" He said, growing annoyed with her throwing orders around.

"And what if she doesn't like it? Then what?" Asked Carol.

Rick tilted his head to the side and laughed derisively.

"If it comes to that…"

"Honestly. If it comes to that, what will you do? If Michonne says it's a bad idea for us to take this place, what will you say? What will you do? I sure as shit hope you pull her ass into line quick smart …"

"Hey, I'm not forcin' her to do anything she doesn't wanna do. If she backs us, fine, if not then I respect her wishes," Rick said.

"You respect her wishes?" Carol laughed. "What does that even mean? What's gotten into you, Rick? It seems like for these past weeks, whatever Michonne says you go along with. She's got you wrapped around her little finger. I know y'all are close, but seriously, what's the deal with you trying to please her?"

"I'm tryin' to please everyone. She's only ever had our groups' best interests at heart, Carol…"

"And I haven't?"

"I didn't say that. Don't put words in my mouth. Let me finish," he said adamantly. "Michonne cares about what happens to us. That's why I listened to her in the first place. That's why we're here…"

"I know…"

"She somehow gets me to see things from a different perspective and sometimes I just need that; and I trust her judgement. So, I'm gonna tell her later today and then we'll all have a meeting. Is that gonna be alright with you?" Rick asked.

Carol nodded before speaking.

"Are you gonna be alright with doing what needs to be done even if it turns out that Michonne is gonna go against you?" she queried.

"What do you mean?" asked Rick with narrowed eyes.

"She's a great ally for us; she's smart and strong. Pragmatic and efficient. If she sides with these people…"

"Hey," Rick said stepping closer while trying to keep his voice down. "She's not an ally, she's family. You'd do well to remember that."

"I know that, I'm just sayin' that you need to think about what's good for all of us. Don't let your feelings for her cloud your better judgement," Carol said as Rick looked at her stunned; she obviously knew there was something between them.

"I know it's none of my business…"

"You're right; it ain't your business and I gotta go. We'll talk later," said Rick, thoroughly irked, as he turned and went back inside.

xXxXx

Rick knocked tentatively at Michonne's bedroom door; she groaned and drew the sheet from over her head.

"Yeah?" She called out with her eyes still closed.

"It's me, Rick. Can I come in?" He asked and then waited.

Michonne sat up.

"Hold on," she advised.

Michonne then glanced over at her night stand. She grabbed what was left of the bottled water, a tank top from the clothes basket and her headband. She tied her hair into a high ponytail, wet a section of the top and used it to wipe her face clean; she paid extra attention under her eyes as she wiped away any make-up that may have become smudged. She patted her hair down and then settled back under the sheets.

"Come in," she said as Rick carefully opened the door, looked at her and then stepped inside of her bedroom.

He nodded in her direction.

"How's your head?" he asked, closing the door behind himself but not moving forward.

"It's okay," Michonne replied. "Thanks for these, by the way."

She said referring to the water and aspirin. Rick smiled a little.

"Can I sit down?" he asked, gesturing towards the bed.

Michonne thought for a moment, nodded and then moved her legs so as to make room for him. Rick moved and took up a seat. He spent a moment taking in Michonne's appearance; her hair was pulled away from her face and, though she looked tired, she was still very beautiful. She looked sleepy in an adorable kind of way.

Rick then noticed that she was wearing his brown shirt. He thought it looked much better on her; but reasoned it was most likely because the shirt belonged to him. Rick found the sight of her in his clothing to be very arousing. He went in there to have a serious conversation, but now he was imagining sneaking under the sheets and kissing her between her thighs. He had to shake his head slightly to regain his focus.

"What did you need, Rick?" Michonne asked as she noticed the look of hunger in his eyes.

I need you, he thought before clearing his throat.

"I, uh, wanted to have a word to you. About last night. I wanted to apologize for the way I acted," he said in earnest.

Michonne folded her arms and listened.

"You were right. I was the one that ended what was happening between us, and I didn't give you a reason why," he explained without explaining very much at all.

"Are you here to give me a reason now?" Michonne asked as she felt like her headache was going to return.

Rick thought quickly; he wanted to tell her about their plans but he did not want another argument. He tried to word his explanation right in his mind, but could not; instead he opted to take a deep breath and let it all out.

"Yes," he answered. "But first I have to tell you how much you mean to me."

"I'm listening," Michonne said.

"I'm not gonna hold back anymore; you gotta know I care for you a lot. I want to be with you in every way, I just messed it all up because I'm dealin' with something else…"

"Dealing with what? You know you can talk to me, Rick," Michonne offered, growing concerned with what Rick was actually keeping from her.

"I know. Let me get it all out, first. So, I've been talkin' to Carol and Daryl about the safety of this place. You gotta know these people are weak, Michonne…"

"I realize that they're not as equipped to deal with this world as we are…"

"Michonne,"

"Sorry," she said. "I'll let you finish."

"We were talkin' about some safety measures we were gonna take to Deanna, ya know, like ideas to make it safer here," said Rick as Michonne nodded in understanding.

"We had a back-up plan as well if Deanna didn't like our ideas," he said slowly.

Michonne sighed: "What was this plan?"

"We were gonna rob the armory and take over this place," Rick said as he looked down at his hands.

Michonne's brows furrowed.

"So if they didn't listen, y'all were planning to force them?"

"That ain't even the full story," he added. "That changed from the back-up plan to the actual plan."

Now Michonne's eyes went wide.

"This is what you've been keeping from me? This is what you and Carol have been meeting in secret about?" She asked disbelievingly.

Rick nodded.

"I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd try to stop me; you could've. There's nothin' I wouldn't do for you. Carol knows that too, that's why we lied to you. I'm sorry," he offered.

"Ah, let's just put my feelings to the back burner for a second, here. These people did nothing to us, Rick. We have no rights to do that to them. They took us in and this is how you want to repay them, by taking their home?"

"They're weak, Michonne…"

"And that's not an excuse for us to prove that we're strong. For fuck's sake. What were the three of you thinking? Are you trying to get us thrown out just when we've got a chance at living again?"

"No," Rick stated firmly. "That's not what I was tryin' to do. You wanted this place, Michonne. I'm tryin' to give it to you."

"For me? What's the plan? Run them out of here so that they get torn apart out on the road? Or better yet, kill them in their sleep? This is not who we are, Rick. They didn't threaten us; they welcomed us. Don't say you want to do this for me…"

"I do want to do it for you!" he said raising his voice. "Don't you get it, I'd kill all of these people for you and the kids…"

"You don't have to, though!" Michonne said loudly.

Rick tried to reach for Michonne's hand, but she pulled it away.

"I love you," said Rick evenly. "I love you and I'd do anything for you."

Michonne felt as if she was going to cry as her bottom lip quivered.

"What do you want me to do?" he pleaded, finally latching onto her hand with his.

Michonne inhaled and exhaled deeply.

"I want you to leave me alone for a little while, Rick. Please. I just need some time alone."

…..

Later in the day, Rick took Judith back out into the back yard after he had prepared lunch; he sent Carl inside to check on Michonne and to tell her that they were ready to eat. With hope, she will have calmed down a little after learning about the plan to take over the Safe-Zone. He also wanted to talk about his admission of love; when Carl returned without Michonne, Rick felt a little deflated.

"She comin' down?" he asked his teenaged son.

"She said she'll be back a little later," Carl offered in a matter-of-fact manner.

"Well where'd she go?" Rick queried as he narrowed his eyes.

"She went to see Carol."