This'll be set sometime in "Knots Untie." Let's go with the thought that the group decided to meet with each other to discuss if they believed Jesus or not about trading with different communities.

LONG OVERDUE

Rating T

Rick stared at the small group, looking at each of them. "What do you think?" asked Rick.

"I don't know, man," Daryl stated with a shake of his head. "We been here for months and ain't never seen nothin'. Now all of a sudden there's not only one community, but a few?"

"It's a good opportunity," said Maggie. "We need food." She touched her stomach, whether subconsciously or to purposely remind everyone that she was pregnant.

"Yah but are we 'bout to risk you and that baby on a hunch?" Daryl countered.

"I don't think it's a hunch," stated Glenn.

"I don't either," Rick agreed. "He coulda killed us at several different points, and he hasn't." He turned from the top of the stairs to glance at Jesus and Michonne, who had both her gun and her sword pointed at Jesus. "He coulda got one up on me and Michonne but he didn't."

"He said he checked out the armory," said Abraham. "When Carl comes back, we'll know if anything's missing. If not…." His voice trailed.

Daryl looked at Rick. "So we go. But we go prepared."

Rick nodded. Glenn, Maggie, and Abraham all headed back to the living room while Daryl lingered, a small smirk on his face. Rick arched an eyebrow.

"So you and Michonne?"

"Shut up," Rick said, glancing at Michonne.

Daryl laughed. "Don't you think it's about time?"

Rick's head snapped back to Daryl, and Rick took his best friend in. "You're not even surprised."

"I am. I'm surprised it took this damn long, especially 'cus she's been walkin' around in her damn bathrobe and shit. But it shoulda happened before this, before Alexandria. This is long overdue."

"Hey, I haven't had any more time than you have to think like this," said Rick. "Things kinda jus' settled down a little and I got a chance to think."

"Well we all think you shoulda thought a long time ago."

"Hey, it's not like you guys ever said anything."

Daryl shook his head. "You wouldn't'a seen it noway."

"That's my point," Rick said.

Daryl chuckled. "She's good for you. And Carl and Judith. She ain't like Lori. And she damn sure ain't shit like Jessie. Michonne was always cut out for this world, man. She's already always had your back."

"Not always," smiled Rick. "We got off to a pretty rough start there."

"You were taken even then," Daryl said. "You think I ain't see, that no one saw, but you hated when she would leave off to find the Governor. You'd snap at everyone until she returned like it was our fault she was fearless."

"I did not."

"You did."

Rick stayed silent. That wasn't how he remembered it. Yes, he had been worried, the Governor was crazy, absolutely insane, and no one knew if she was okay until she returned, and sometimes that could be days or weeks.

"She'd been different then," Rick stated. "Angrier. Unbalanced."

"And you changed her. 'Cus you were off your hinges for a minute there. And you got better with her, the same way she got better with you. I ain't never been surprised when it came to you two. When we lost the prison and I stumbled up on y'all… I wasn't at all surprised to find you three together. None of us were."

"It wasn't like that then," said Rick.

"Yah it was. You jus' couldn't see it." Rick remained silent. "I'm glad you can see it now."

Rick looked down, a small smile gracing his lips. "Me too."

"Yah, so don't screw it up."

"Nothin' to screw up," Rick assured Daryl.

"Good. 'Cus in the case of a divorce… I'm tellin' you now… Carl and Judith are goin' wit' her."

Rick frowned. "Jesus. I haven't even told Carl, and he found out before all of you."

"Relax. You know damn well that kid loves Michonne. And Judith is about one month away from startin' to call her Mom. Those kids love her."

"Yah but Carl's… Carl's still very much a child. Lori hasn't been gone all that long. He doesn't understand that it feels like years have passed—"

"Rick," Daryl interrupted. "Carl's been treatin' Michonne like his mom long before you even knew you had feelin's for her. That should tell you enough. Carl'll be cool, man. I promise he ain't no more surprised than the rest of us."

Rick nodded, his talk with Daryl suddenly reminding him that he would have to talk with Carl. Soon.

"You'll be okay," Daryl said, hitting Rick's stomach, much like he had done all those months ago when Michonne had shown up at the prison only to declare she was going to go back out there. "C'mon. We have a community to see about."

Rick nodded, and just then Michonne walked up to them.

"I'll leave you two alone," smirked Daryl.

Michonne and Rick ignored him. "Carl just got back. Nothing's missing."

"All right. Let's go." Michonne nodded and Michonne headed upstairs while Rick headed back to the living room.

It was time to get ready.