"Hey, Michonne, wait up."

Michonne turned to see Carol walking towards her.

"Hey, Carol, how's it going?"

"Okay, where you headed?"

"I just dropped Judy off with Olivia and I'm heading over to talk to Abe and Tobin and some of the others about the plans for Monroe Manor and some other community plans."

Deanna Monroe was Alexandria's founder. To honor her memory, Michonne, had decided to use Deanna's former home as a community center. Rick would have his office there and the community could use the space for holiday parties, movie nights, and a game room for the kids and the bedrooms could be used for visitors or new community members that were still waiting to be placed into homes.

"Mind if I tag along? Rick mentioned that you were working on turning Deanna's place into the community center. I'd like to hear more about it, if you don't mind."

Michonne started walking again and nodded for Carol to come along.

"Yea, this community was Deanna's idea, her legacy. I thought it'd be a good idea to honor her in some way. A place for the community to come together and a place where Rick can work instead of keeping his crap spread across the dining room table."

The two women laugh, as they both knew how messy Rick Grimes could be. Carol nodding in agreement said, "Sounds great. I was hoping that I could help in some way".

Michonne turned her head slightly to look at the older woman. It was no secret that Carol wasn't fond of Deanna and her community when their group first arrived. Carol chuckled as she felt Michonne's eyes on her.

"Before you say anything, let me explain. I know what you're thinking. It's true I was quite skeptical of this place when we first got here. The way I went about things, the gun scheme, getting Rick involved… Sam," she said quietly as the young boy came to her mind. "It was wrong but this is our home now and I'd like to be a part of building it up and making sure it goes the distance."

Michonne nodded and said with a smile, "Well, you're in luck cause we can use all the help we can get."

The two continued on in comfortable silence for a few minutes greeting Alexandrians that were out and about.

Finally, Carol said, "I saw Carl this morning. He was talking to Tara and Rosita before he took over watch. He kept talking about his mom and his mom and dad and his mom with Judy. It took me a minute but I realized that he was talking about you."

Again, Michonne looked over to the older woman trying to gauge her expression and figure out where this conversation might be headed. Michonne didn't feel the need to explain things to Carol but said, "Yea, we talked about it earlier this morning. He wanted to call me mom sometimes so that Judy would learn….since I'd be the only mom that she knows was his reasoning."

"Yea, that makes sense but it was different this morning when I saw him. The way he said it, the way he talked about you specifically. I can tell he loves you a lot," Carol said with a smile.

"Well, I love him a lot. And Judy too," Michonne responded.

"And Rick," Carol asked slowing to look over at Michonne.

"Yea, and Rick," Michonne said as Rick Grimes came to her mind and a smile to her face.

"Good. I'm glad to hear it. He deserves to be loved." After a few beats, Carol continued, "He's different with you, you know."

"How," Michonne asked.

"Happy," Carol looked over to Michonne. "Content. Patient. He listens to you when you talk, wants to know your opinion. Same with Carl. He seems more confidant, believes in himself more, more sure of himself. Some of it probably comes with age and maturity but I think you're part of it too."

Carol and Michonne reached the front of Deanna Monroe's home. Through the window they could see Abe and Tobin and some of the other community members that had come to take part in the meeting.

"You give them both opportunities to explore, to be themselves, to get in trouble even," Carol chuckled to herself " but you don't chastise or belittle them when they mess up. I loved Lori. She was a good friend but she wasn't built for this world. You're good for them. You give them exactly what they need in order to be the Grimes men that they are."

Before entering the home, Carol turned to Michonne one last time, "I know that we haven't had a lot of time together. That seems silly to say since we spent all of that time on the road but we never really spent time together, getting to know one another, you know. From what I understand we have a lot in common."

Carol met Michonne's gaze and the two women immediately understood. No one could ever understand the loss of a child in this new world.

Michonne nodded in understanding, "Well, I hope that we can do that now. Spend time together, become friends."

"Yes, I'd like that," Carol said as she reached over to give Michonne's arm a squeeze. "I'd like that."