Disclaimer: I do not own the Walking Dead

A/N: Thanks for the reviews; keep them coming, I get so much inspiration from them.

I just wanted to address something, for the most part, readers have appreciated where I have taken the direction of this story, but I've had some questions regarding Rick's choice to have his group remain at the Settlement if he were asked to leave. I gave it a lot of thought when I determined that Rick would decide to place his family's safety and security above his own need to have them near him. He would have their best interests in mind. Please remember he is a complex character and nothing ever comes easily for him.

Also, I don't realise how much I miss Richonne when they are not together in scenes; I seriously have to write more scenes between them (if Rick sticks around), but alas, our gallant hero may soon be banished from the realm *insert fretful facial expression here*


The afternoon was uncommonly quiet and unnervingly calm, although the summer sun was still relentless. The younger Grimes sat silently with the others from their group as they waited to find out the decision regarding his father's fate. He felt tired and afraid as he watched his small sister playing in front of him; completely oblivious to how dire their current situation was. Rick Grimes was in trouble, serious trouble, for not following the stringent rules of the Settlement, and now his group sat wondering what their next move would be. Michonne was next to Carl in the shade, just as silent as he was. She still appeared to be nauseated and did not lift her eyes for fear of vomiting once more as Sasha handed her a bottle of water. She gave soft thanks and rinsed her mouth before letting the water settle her stomach. The heat of the afternoon sun only exacerbated the feelings of uncertainty and fear. Michonne had literally worried herself sick.

Glenn was adamant that someone should go and find out what was happening, so they had sent Daryl who had returned to the group directly after visiting Rick with the approval of the Council. He approached slowly; Glenn and Ty stood to greet him, wearing concerned expressions. Carl, upon noticing Daryl's arrival, lifted his head and gaze; Michonne did not.

"He's okay." said Daryl, looking at the teenager and the woman. "They let me see him."

Michonne felt a breath, that she was unaware she had been holding, escape from her lungs.

"The Council is makin' a decision, they've got him in the detainment area while they talk. He said I had to fill everyone in, but would talk to you in person. Michonne?"

She shifted and forced herself to glance to her friend, her head still spinning slightly.

"He wants you to take the kids to see him."

Michonne, Carl and Judith approached the gymnasium area where, inside the sports equipment storeroom, those who were awaiting a Council decision were retained in holding. The caged area where equipment used to be kept worked well as a detainment cage. It was comfortable and secure.

Two armed men guarded the outside door. As Michonne and Carl came closer to them, one signalled for them to stop while he patted them down. Persuaded they were not carrying weapons, he asked them to wait until he unlocked the door and released Rick from the caged area. Carl rushed towards his father and met him in a tight hug as Rick placed a kiss to the top of his son's head.

"You okay, Dad? They didn't hurt you?" The teenager asked, clearly concerned for his father's welfare.

Rick smiled. "I'm fine, buddy. Just waitin' to see what they say."

Michonne, avoiding his gaze, handed Judith to Rick and he held the baby close, peppering her face with soft kisses and she tugged at his beard and giggled. His eyes softened as he tenderly, yet sadly looked at his daughter. He realized he had already resigned himself to surrender his family, in an attempt to protect them, but all in all, it still hurt.

Michonne watched them as she felt tears welling in her eyes, yet again. Watching Rick with his children touched her heart in ways too complex to explain. Rick noticed her and the sad expression on her face; he sighed loudly, handed Judith to Carl, held his hand out to Michonne and quietly and gently said, "Come here."

She took his hand as he drew her near and enveloped her in his arms. The weight fell away from them both as they each listened to the other breathe softly, not uttering a single a word. There was nothing they could say to one another, they both knew the relief and comfort that they sensed when they were together. Rick could feel her trembling slightly, she felt vulnerable in his arms and he had become accustomed to her letting her guard down with him. He felt happy she was comfortable with him, that she trusted him. He could only hope she still trusted his judgement after he shared with her what he had told the Council.

"It'll be okay. I don't want either of you worrying too much." He said as they went to sit down on a few dusty chairs.

"What did they say?" Michonne asked, getting straight to the point.

"They didn't say much, just asked for my side of the story. I told 'em everything. Those assholes actually tried to say I threatened to kill 'em in their sleep, can you believe that? Anyway, I was straight with 'em." Rick offered honestly, but she could tell there was something else on his mind.

Michonne's eyes narrowed as she asked, "What aren't you telling me, Rick?"

Rick rubbed his eyes as he considered how he would admit to Carl and Michonne that he wanted them to stay behind, if he was sent away. He knew they would not accept it, that they would want to follow him; but he had to, at the very least, attempt to get them to understand his reasoning. He took a deep breath and said exactly what he had decided.

"If they banish me, you all have to stay. No buts and ifs, you have to stay. I can't put y'all in danger; it's safer here than it is out on the road. Please, this is hard enough for me as it is. Promise me, if they send me away, you don't follow."


"The rules were clearly broken, Melanie. Grimes acted in a violent manner towards people in our camp. He should be dealt with the same way we've handled other situations. I don't see what your point is here." Chided one of the other members named Gary.

"What I'm sayin' is it happened while they were out on a run. From what he's said, he wanted to leave it outside. The fact remains that he didn't assault Thom inside the Settlement. Ya know what, I'm not even sure it was assault..." retorted Melanie, trying to see the reasons behind Rick's actions.

"Are you shittin' me?"

"No. No, let me finish now. I see it as they got into a scuffle, and Grimes drew to even the odds."

"She's right." Offered another. "Any one of us could've punched on with someone and done the exact same thing."

"He still threatened to kill Thom when he drew his gun on him. That's the actions of a violent man. We all know he spent a long time out in the world. A lot of it was spent alone. He's dangerous and unstable. His son seems to be just like him. All guns blazin' too. I just knew it would be a matter of time before we were sittin' here decidin' whether or not to banish him. He's trouble." Said Gary as he added, "His group could be trouble too."

"Now hold on. We can't blame the rest of 'em for his actions. His wife and kids don't deserve to be thrown out into that shit storm..."

"Are you serious? His kid has better aim than half of us. Did you see his wife this mornin' cutting down walkers like she was prunin' the fucking roses? They can sure as hell take care of themselves."

"Gary, that ain't the point though!" Said someone.

"What should we do then?" he asked in a sarcastic manner. "You said we had to weigh everything up, look at his family too. What should we do? Let them stay after we kick him out? Wake up dead one day 'cause that boy of his filled us full of holes? Or give his wife the chance to skewer us with that sword?"

"When I said consider his family, I meant we have a responsibility to them as well. We can't just split them up because he punched John's son in the face!"

"Don't trivialize it! They'd want to go with him anyway!"

The argument was becoming heated as the tension in the room rose to new heights.

"What about the baby?" Asked Sara, the youngest of the Council and also the quietest.

"What about her?" Gary asked indignantly. "He already asked for the kid to be allowed to stay, so she can stay. His wife and son will most likely wanna follow, I say let 'em go, let the baby stay with someone else from his group like he already wanted. Problem solved. They go, his daughter stays. Too easy."

Sara rolled her eyes as she stated, in a matter-of-fact manner: "No, not his daughter. The other baby, the one on the way? The one his wife is carrying?"