Rick's eyes opened. He was groggy but aware. He squirmed around in his bed realizing that his arms and legs were restrained.

Morgan? Was he in Morgan's house this time?

Rick started to struggle. He snatched at his arms, attempting to free them so he could untie his legs. He grunted, hoping that would give him the added strength to free himself.

"Look, he's awake!"

"Duane?"

"Dad it's Carl!"

Rick turned his head and saw his son standing at the side of his bed. He tried to reach out to his son, forgetting very quickly that he was still restrained. Carl leaned over his father and squeezed him tightly.

"You attacked the doctor. You threatened to kill her so they had to tie you up." Michonne said joining Carl with Judith in her arms.

Rick squeezed his eyes and shook his head as if trying to rid himself of the lingering fog. "What is this place?"

Michonne leaned over and kissed Rick on the cheek. "You're in a hospital in Virginia."

"But they said that they had nothing to hide." Rick slurred barely able to stay awake.

Michonne understood Rick's inference. "This isn't Woodberry. We're always going to remain vigilant. That's not going to change. They took us on a tour, answered our questions, and allowed us to walk around unescorted. "

"What does your gut tell you?"

Rick and Michonne held each other's gaze. He awaited her answer, holding on to his breath as she rocked Judith.

Carl gave his father his hat back. The teen placed it on his head for him. "Wanna know what I think? We're in no position to leave either way because you're sick and we basically have nowhere else to go. So it's kind of stupid to argue about it. "He finished as he was leaving the room.

"Where are you going?" Michonne asked.

Carl turned around. "To get a soda. I've said what I needed to say."

"What are we going to do with him, Michonne?" Rick asked her, managing a small smile.

Michonne sat on the side of his bed. Judith laughed as she tugged at her locks. "I don't know but you're not in a position to do anything strapped up like that."

"Well when they untie me and I get out of this place I am determined to make up for lost time."

Michonne noted the change of tone in Rick's voice to a lower register. His accent grew thicker as it boiled with defiance. He was making her nervous.

"I suppose we aren't talking about Carl?" She asked rapidly rocking Judith.

Rick emotions suddenly bounced between extremes. He looked at Michonne with Judith and couldn't help but to be moved. His eyes filled up with water. He remembered their time alone on the beach when they shared their greatest hopes and dreams for not only themselves but for their life together. Rick knew in his heart it was time to remind Michonne of the promise that they made to each other that beautiful night. He uttered the one word that he knew would make her remember.

"Alexandria."

Just the sound of the word escaping from Rick's lips startled her. It was a simple word that had different meanings for everyone, but she couldn't imagine it being any more powerful than it meant for the two of them.

"We can remove the restraints now, Sherriff Grimes but you can't hurt anyone!" A nurse announced after entering the room with a rather large orderly.

At first Rick wanted to bless out the nurse for breaking the energy he and Michonne created. The frustration at the bad timing was enough to give him the strength to tear out of his restraints similar to the way he tore into Joe's throat. But with his hands free his chance had arrived to drive his intentions home with Michonne. The nurse used surgical scissors to shear Rick free. The orderly, on standby observed him with a snarl. When she was finished, the nurse asked Rick if he needed anything. She ran down a whole list of possible items that she could retrieve for him. He almost flipped out with her relentless pestering. Rick wanted to tell her that she could get the hell out and take the daunting orderly with her, but he couldn't be that cruel.

When the nurse finally left, Michonne used pillows to prop Judith up against the bar at the side of Rick's bed. She playfully clung onto her father's neck. Michonne raked her fingers through Rick's hair. She discovered playing with his wavy locks was her favored part of their very brief intimacy. Michonne knew it soothed Rick and put him at peace. Helping him find that place of serenity pleased her and made her feel like a goddess to have so much power over his spirit. Rick reached out to her and placed his hand on her stomach rubbing it gently.

"Alexandria." Rick said again, this time in a sensual whisper.

Michonne tenderly slid her hands over Rick's hand, caressing it and holding it onto her stomach. With this act she showed him that she didn't forget their promise. Michonne closed her eyes and whispered the word that Rick wanted to hear, the word that would serve as the genesis of their union.

Alexandria.

Rick was held at the hospital for two more days for observation. When Michonne brought Carl and Judith with her to hospital on the day he was to be discharged she informed him of the situation with their temporary housing. The four of them, along with Daryl were going to live together in one house. Rick wondered why Daryl chose to live with them instead of Carol but he wasn't going to press the issue. After he was discharged they took the elevator down to the lobby. There Rick saw the group waiting for them. They all left the hospital together, reveling in the temporary lull in their daily battle for survival. As they traveled through streets of their new home, the scores of people busying by stopped and glared at them. The group could hear their heals clicking on the pavement as a dead silence overtook the community.

"Not a friendly bunch, are they?" Glenn said out loud. Maggie elbowed him in the ribs. Beth laughed.

"What was that for? I was just telling the truth!"

"Sometimes things are best left unsaid." She replied back.

"Hey Moses. I need to thank you for getting us to the Promised Land." Tyreese said to Abe, hoping that they could make amends after their conflict earlier in the week.

Abe nodded and shook Tyreese's hand.

"I'm proud of you big brother. I know it took a lot for you to give Abraham some praise." Sasha said after Abe walked ahead with Rosita and Tara.

"It's a new start for all of us, a clean slate. I'm trying my best." He answered.

With Michonne's hand in his, and Carl and Judith clinging onto them, Rick said a silent prayer of thanksgiving for everything that they had been through and for the times ahead. They had to remain vigilant in this world but they also had to hold fast to hope and perseverance. Rick kissed Judith on the cheek, temporarily losing himself in the dreams he had for her since the first day she entered the world.