Chapter 11:

For the first night in three days, Rick was able to close his eyes and get some sleep alone in his bedroom. But his sleep wasn't peaceful. He was plagued with nightmares about his family. His past wife and his son.

Sweat drenched Rick's pillow when he suddenly opened his eyes.

He pulled back, startled, when the first thing that met his eyes was a small, unfamiliar looking little boy staring at him with wide eyes. He didn't have much time to register what he was seeing before Michonne's figure came through the door.

"Sorry, sorry," she said. She hurried to the bed and picked the little boy up from the bed. It was then that Rick belatedly realized that it was Michonne's son, Andre, he was looking at. "I was changing clothes and he disappeared on me. I convinced Mike to let me have him for the day since we'll be leaving tomorrow to look for the Saviors. We'll stay out of your hair." She turned and made her way out the bedroom door with Andre on her hip; he was still staring curiously at the rugged, sleep addled man lying in bed.

Rick shook his head to wake up and threw the covers aside. Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, he allowed his mind to pull itself from sleep.

That's right. It was the last day of the week-long wedding celebration. He had gotten through seven long days of mindless chatter, parties, and what Michonne called "bonding with his people". It had been torture.

And when he thought about how he couldn't even get relief in the night from between his new wife's thighs, he grew even more frustrated. She really wouldn't even give an inch. It seemed she was serious when she said there would never be anything like that between them.

He ran his hands through his hair and followed after Michonne, making his way downstairs. He found her in the kitchen with Andre still on her hip. She was at the stove making breakfast.

He pulled up short at the sight, remembering mornings where he would find Lori and Carl the exact same way. Pain clenched his heart.

"Mama. He's here." Andre's small voice came quietly. His chocolate eyes were once again fixed on Rick.

"Hm?" Michonne asked gently. "Who's here?" She turned over her shoulder to see Rick standing in the doorway looking slightly dazed. "Oh. Rick. Do you want breakfast too?"

Rick broke himself from his trance and walked into the room. He hadn't even washed up yet but Michonne was fully dressed in a blue tank top and leather pants. She was still barefoot though. His eyes traveled up and down her well-toned and shapely body. He was convinced she knew what she was doing. "Going somewhere?" he asked.

"Yeah," Michonne answered, still concentrating on her cooking. "We're going to have a picnic on the shooting grounds since there's no training today."

"Just you two?" Rick asked.

"Yeah," Michonne answered.

"Nothing's planned for today? No more parties I need to go to? People I need to talk to?"

"No, not today. Those who are left are packing up and going home today. I'm going to go and say goodbye to Ezekiel before he leaves after the picnic." She looked at Andre, expecting him to cheer like he usually did when he heard Ezekiel's name – he loved the old man – but Andre stayed silent. It seemed he was still caught up in just studying Rick. A bemused smile fell across Michonne's lips.

"I'm going to go with you," Rick said, making a sudden decision. "I want to talk plans with you before we leave."

Michonne quickly turned towards Rick with a look of shocked consternation on her face. "We've been over the plans a million times already. We talked about them last night."

"Well, I want to talk about them more." Rick said it in a way that left no room for argument. "And yes, I'd like some breakfast. Get it ready while I go to wash up." He left the room before Michonne could say anything else.

A sigh escaped her lips. She had been looking forward to having this day be for just her and Andre. "Well, there goes our mother-son day, Dre."

"I don't like him," Andre said with a pout. Michonne turned to him with a concerned expression.

"You don't? Why not?"

"Scary..."

"He's scary?" Michonne stroked Andre's hair and matched his pout with one of her own. "Aw. Well, you have nothing to be scared of. He's not as scary as he looks. Besides...I'm right here. You think I'd let anything happen to you?"

Andre shook his head.

"Of course not. So come on, let's focus on breakfast before it burns." Michonne turned back to the stove. "Should we make his taste bad? Because he's scary?"

"Yeah," Andre answered immediately.

Michonne laughed. "I was just joking. But I like the way you think."

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Rosita hovered around the pantry with Tara and Eugene as they took inventory. She originally was there to help, but as she stood in place staring blankly at a shelf of peas with a clipboard in hand, it became obvious to Tara that she and Eugene were working alone.

She walked forward and waved a hand in front of Rosita's face. When Rosita blinked and looked her way, she smiled. "Hey there. You okay?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah I am." She hastily began to try to put her focus back on the job at hand but Tara stopped her. She could tell that Rosita wasn't okay.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Rosita sighed and shook her head. "It's probably nothing."

"Okay, well, spit it out anyway."

"Just the fact that Abraham hasn't come back yet," Rosita said worriedly. "I know Rick said that he sent him to the Hilltop but...for what?" Tara listened with sympathy. "He didn't tell me how long he would be gone, he didn't say when he expected him back – nothing. He wouldn't even tell me what he sent him there for."

"It's probably some super secret mission," Tara said, trying to keep her voice light and worry-free. "You know Rick. He's become super tightlipped. Even with us."

"I know," Rosita said, setting the clipboard down on the shelf with a sound thunk. "That's what worries me. What if he sent Abe to do something dangerous? Sasha told me that a group of them are leaving to go find the Saviors' base camp. Do you think whatever Abe's doing has something to do with that?"

Tara laid a calming hand on Rosita's shoulder. "I don't know. But...I still trust Rick. Don't you?"

Rosita was quiet. "...I'm thinking about asking him if I can go to Hilltop to see Abe. If he just sent Abe to talk to Gregory or something, it should be no problem."

Tara sighed through her nose. She wasn't sure if Rick would allow Rosita to go to the neighboring community but she could tell that Abe's absence was weighing on Rosita. And she was determined to do something about it, whether it was to get answers or travel to the Hilltop herself to see him in person. "You do what you have to do," Tara ended up saying.

The worry line disappeared from Rosita's forehead for a moment, glad that she had her friend's support. "Thanks," she said with a small smile.

"No problem. And tell me if you need anything. I'll come and be your backup if you need me to."

"No thanks," Rosita said. "If I have to, I'll just sneak out. I don't need Rick's permission."

Tara gave a frown of concern but didn't try to stop her friend when she turned to leave. "Okay...But hey-" Rosita turned back to look at her. "Maybe try to get him when he's with Michonne. He seems pretty chill when he's with her."

Rosita nodded and left.

"Hey, Tara? Organizing foodstuffs is not exactly within my skill set; can you come and give me a hand?"

"Oh, for God's sake, Eugene!"

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Michonne was packing up the food on the table in the middle of the room when Rick, in a T-shirt and jeans, came back into the kitchen. Her hands were free because she had released Andre from her arms so that he could stand at her side. Rick noticed how the little boy retreated behind his mother's legs when he drew nearer.

He cleared his throat. "Are we ready?"

"Just about," Michonne answered.

She glanced at Rick hovering awkwardly near the corner of the table while she finished packing the food. "Do you wanna help?" she asked.

"Uhh...You're just about finished. I don't wanna get in the way."

"Okay..." Michonne said, a little annoyed because the least he could do was pack some of the dishes together, but when she looked up she saw Rick glance at her son who was clinging tightly to her leg. He was obviously afraid. Michonne realized then that Rick was purposefully keeping his distance. Michonne was once again surprised by the thoughtfulness of the man who spent most of his time thinking about vengeance and indulging in power.

She pushed the picnic blanket she had folded across the table to Rick. "Then can you go ahead and find us a nice spot? We'll be right behind you."

"Okay." Rick took the blanket and left for the shooting grounds where they would have their picnic.

Michonne met him out there a few moments later. He was sitting and staring off into the distance as he waited for them. The sounds of people going about their every day lives around the community could be heard but they were pretty much to themselves on the training grounds. Michonne walked towards him. He looked calm and patient; he wasn't even fidgeting his fingers like he normally did.

She held Andre's hand and moved to take a seat on the blanket, getting Rick's attention. His eyes snapped to her, piercing and alert.

Neither of them said anything. Michonne just went about unpacking the food and placing it on the blanket.

"I was thinking we could split up into three groups when we go to look for the Saviors. And then regroup every couple of days," Rick finally said.

Michonne arched an eyebrow. Did he ever think about anything but his next strategy? She looked at his concentrated face. 'Probably not'. And she couldn't say that that necessarily disappointed her. "You think it'd be wise to thin our numbers?" she asked. "It might be better to stick together."

"You worried about an ambush?"

Michonne shot a glance toward Andre and then glared at Rick. He snapped his lips shut, understanding the message. 'Don't worry the kid'.

"Aren't you?" Michonne answered. She was thinking about the last time when they had used that tactic. "They already outnumber us."

"If we stay in one group, it'll take longer for us to get back," Rick said. "I don't like that. I'm assuming they know where we are. And the only reason they haven't attacked yet is because we've united as communities. We can't risk them coming up with a plan and attacking while we're gone. And I don't like the idea of enemies knowing where we are when we don't have a clue where they are."

Michonne clenched her teeth together. 'Attacking. Enemies.' Rick really sucked at this being careful with his words things.

She sat his food in front of him and gave Andre his food as well. "You should stay here," Michonne said. "Just in case."

In the middle of eating his sandwich, Andre looked up at his mom. "Mama, are you leaving?"

Michonne's heart broke again. It broke whenever he asked that question. Yet again, another thing that was ruined by Rick Grimes butting himself into their day. She hadn't wanted to let him know that she was going somewhere until after they had enjoyed a fun day together. "Yeah," Michonne answered, stroking his head. "But I'm going to come back, I promise. I always come back."

Andre looked sad but he nodded.

"You shouldn't promise that," Rick said.

Michonne glared over at Rick.

"You can't promise that you'll always come back. Not now. Once you're outside your walls, you never know what's gonna happen."

Andre burst out into tears and Michonne immediately rushed to calm him. "Shh," she said. "Shh. Don't listen to him. I'll come back. I always come back. You know that. Nothing's going to keep me from you."

Rick watched awkwardly and he belatedly realized that maybe he shouldn't have spoken in front of the kid. He cast his eyes downward in regret and noticed his food. He bit into his own sandwich, just to give himself something to do while Michonne fixed his mistake, and he immediately began to cough back up what he had just put into his mouth. He grabbed a napkin, spit his food back into it, and continued to sputter.

Michonne smiled while wiping Andre's tears, glad that she had listened to her son when it came to preparing Rick's food. Andre's cries began to stop as he watched Rick's spectacle.

"Ugh," Rick said. "Why was there so much salt? Did you do that?"

"Must have been a slip of the hand," Michonne lied with a half-smile. Rick eyed her suspiciously before pouring himself some water and taking a drink.

Andre's laugh began timidly and then it became full and free.

Michonne smiled wider and wiped the last of Andre's tears. Rick stared at the two culprits of his despair but he couldn't muster up the emotion needed to be upset. "I didn't even know we had that much salt in stock," Rick muttered.

Michonne held back her own laughter thinking that if they had to eat the rest of their food bland, it was well worth it. Andre was still laughing.

"Isn't he enjoying this too much?" Rick asked. Michonne watched crinkles form next to his eyes, hinting at a secret amusement.

"He's fine," Michonne replied teasingly, stroking her son's hair again.

"So is there anything for me to eat?" Rick asked. "Or am I just supposed to starve?"

Michonne pulled another sandwich from the basket. "Here," she said. "I made you another one."

"I thought you said it was just a slip of the hand. And yet you made an extra?"

"What can I say? Intuition."

After biting into his sandwich and determining that it was indeed a less seasoned one, Rick finished eating in good time. So did Michonne and Andre, who stopped laughing long enough to swallow his meal. "Mama," he said, looking up at her. "Can I go play?"

"Stay where I can see you," Michonne advised, picking up the paper leftover from their eating. Without further ado, Andre went running off to try to do flips in the wide-open field. Rick watched the energetic young man, feeling a pain in his heart for his own son.

Michonne noticed his expression. "You miss them, don't you?"

Rick snapped out of his pain and turned to Michonne. For a moment he didn't answer and then he did. "I don't want to talk about it."

Michonne studied him gently. Then she nodded, letting it go. She turned her eyes to watch Andre. "He hasn't had time to make friends with anyone yet," she observed. "I hate seeing him play by himself. But there aren't many children around these days." Her eyes dropped at the sad reality.

"At least he still has you," Rick's voice rasped. "And you still have him."

"That's true," Michonne conceded. "And I'll do anything to keep him safe."

Rick and Michonne were interrupted when a determined Rosita stepped into their line of vision. They both focused on her.

"Where is Abraham?" Rosita demanded.

"He's at Hilltop," Rick responded easily even though he was shocked by Rosita's sudden appearance.

"Why?" Rosita asked.

Rick shrugged. "Takin' a vacation."

Rosita released an irritated breath before straightening her shoulders and making a declaration. "I'm going to go see him. Tomorrow, when all of you leave to find the Saviors' basecamp, I'm coming with you as far as Huntington and then I'm splitting off for Hilltop. That's it." With that said, she turned and walked away.

Rick and Michonne watched her go.

"She's going to be a problem," Rick stated.

"We should tell her what happened," Michonne said. "We should've told her straight away."

"She won't want us to do what's necessary if she finds out," Rick said.

Michonne finished sorting the trash. "Is it necessary?"

Rick looked over at Michonne. "...What?"

"I've been thinking that maybe killing Abraham isn't the way to go."

"He tried to kill me!" Rick said, sitting up straighter.

"I know," Michonne said. "But he was only doing what he thought was right for the good of the community. In his eyes, he was taking down a tyrant."

Rick narrowed his eyes at her. "Is that what you think?" Rick asked. "That I'm a tyrant?"

"We're not talking about me-"

"Now we are. Is that what you think?"

"I think you can make better decisions as a leader," Michonne admitted. "You have it in you."

Rick's eyes narrowed. 'She thinks I'm a tyrant.' That thought caused a cold hand of pain to clench around Rick's heart. The breeze of the day blew against his face and caused the old leftover scratch from his fight in the tournament to sting. 'I've been going around these last couple of days following her lead for what? For her to look at me like I'm not complete scum? What have I been doing since it's obvious she just thinks I'm scum anyway.'

Rick squinted against the wind.

"What are you thinking?" Michonne asked, trying to read Rick's quickly changing expression.

"I'll stay," Rick suddenly said.

"What?" Michonne asked.

"I'll stay here while you and the group go to look for the Saviors' base camp."

Michonne was curious about why Rick suddenly changed his mind but she didn't question it. "What should I do about Rosita?"

"Do what you think is best."

Michonne furrowed her brow. "That's it?"

"Yeah," Rick said. "You make the call about what to do about her."

"Okay," Michonne said. She shrugged off the uneasy feeling that Rick was agreeing too readily. "I'm going to tell her about what Abe did. And when we get back, we can all decide what's best to do about it."

Rick gave a short nod.

"Oh. Also..." Michonne looked up at Rick expectantly. "Since we're going to be separated tomorrow for I don't know how long, I think it's about time we consummate our marriage, don't you?"

Michonne was quiet, not knowing if Rick was joking or not. His eyes didn't seem to be saying he was, but she never got the chance to ask him. They were interrupted by Mike and Matthew who had both come running up to them anxiously. Mike bypassed them to run and grab Andre and Matthew stopped in front of them with a harried expression. Michonne immediately knew something was wrong.

"I thought you were back at the Kingdom," she said to Matthew, standing up.

"There is no more Kingdom." His eyes were wide and his voice cracked.

"What?" Michonne asked, her heart immediately picking up speed. Rick got to his feet as well.

"Turns out while most of The Kingdom was here celebrating, the Saviors took the chance to attack us. The Kingdom is gone."

Michonne's hand went to her heart and she felt her knees almost give way. The Kingdom had been her home for almost two years. "Everyone who stayed back...they're gone?"

"Only a few made it," Matthew said. "He did it on purpose. Spared some of us so we could pass the message on."

"What message?" Rick growled.

"They're coming."

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Rick paced back and forth in his living room. They had gathered together all of the fighters of the community to discuss plans.

"This is exactly what they want," Rick seethed. "They want us to fret and worry until they come. Whether it's tomorrow, three days from now, a week from now, or a month. They want us to be afraid."

"So what do we do?" Sasha asked. "We already have guards at every wall twenty-four/seven. We can only hope that we can fight them when they come."

"No," Rick said. "Hope isn't enough."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Maggie asked.

"We need to find out where their base camp is," Rick said.

"We can't afford to leave," Heath piped up.

"Maybe we can afford it..." Rick said. He looked around the room at the civilians of The Kingdom and the ASZ. "The Kingdom suffered losses today and nothing can make up for the lives that were lost, but most of The Kingdom was here. With us. What the Saviors destroyed were buildings. Buildings can be rebuilt. And now we have extra warriors here to help us fight."

Michonne glanced over at the put-out Ezekiel. She didn't know whether he was hearing anything that was being said. He seemed to be in a daze.

"So you want us to go out tomorrow as planned?" she asked.

"Not you." He turned his eyes to Daryl. "Daryl, you take a group out and see if you can find that base camp. As soon as possible."

"No problem," Daryl replied. "A damn bike gang going around on loud ass motorcycles shouldn't be hard to track."

Rick nodded. "The rest of us will stay here and protect and defend the ASZ. That's our main goal at all costs."

When Rick was done giving out orders, everyone was dismissed. "Michonne. Rosita," he called out, holding them back. They met him after everyone was gone.

"I want you two to go to the Hilltop."

Michonne and Rosita looked at each other, surprised by this request. "Michonne, take a group with you. I need you to convince the Hilltop to come and help us in this battle. No matter what it takes." Michonne nodded. This was in no way going to be easy since Gregory was adamant about avoiding war at all costs. But she knew this was an important task to complete.

"No problem," she replied.

"Rosita, you're going because you wanted to see your boyfriend so much."

Rosita rolled her eyes. 'Still an asshole,' she thought. But she didn't respond. It was true that she still wanted to go to the Hilltop. Any reason to do so was fine with her.

Rick shared a glance with Michonne, letting her know that he wanted to talk to her when they were alone. They didn't have to wait long since Rosita said she understood in less than a civil tone and then walked off.

Rick stepped closer to Michonne so that they could talk quietly. "Abe, Riff, and Tobin are supposedly at Hilltop. Last time you saw them, they threatened harm to you. I'm sure you'll do what's needed if they try something again."

Michonne glanced curiously at Rick. "Of course," she said.

Rick nodded and took a step back. "I'll talk to you later tonight. Be waiting in my room." Michonne stared after Rick as he left the living area.

When he left the house, Rick went to find Spencer. He was getting ready to take his shift at the wall. "Spencer," Rick called, catching up. The younger man stopped. "I want you to go to the Hilltop with Michonne and Rosita's group tomorrow. You may not be good at much but you're good at firing a gun. I want you to get Abe in your sights. And kill him."