Rick placed Judith in her crib and gave her a kiss. She continued to slumber.

"Daddy and Michonne will be right back."

Rick undressed down to his boxers. He went to his nightstand and opened the drawer. He looked at the condoms. Rick's face flushed with abashment. There was some truth to what Michonne shared. During their time at the outer limits there was no time to think. Now, they were over thinking everything. His mind was racing with all sorts of nonsense.

Could he please Michonne?

He knew he could protect her.

But that was survival mode.

This was living and loving.

Tonight they would truly discover if together they could make this house a home.

Rick took a breath. He dragged a recliner in front of his bedroom door. He took another breath and crossed the hall to Michonne's room. He knocked on the door. When she filed to answer, Rick decided to break etiquette and enter.

"Michonne?"

The room was empty.

Before Rick had a chance to transform into cop mode he felt a pair arms slide around his waist.

"I'm right here." Michonne whispered.

"Where were you?"

"Getting ready for bed. Is Judith ok."

"Yeah she's still asleep."

Michonne slid her hands past Rick's waist and into his boxers. She surprised herself with her boldness.

"Perfect."

Rick let out a low groan as Michonne massaged him. She felt a slight stickiness on her hands.
"Not quite there yet." Michonne teased Rick lecherously. She planted light kisses on his back making him tremble. His mind was racing again, a question pounding in his head.

How did he get so blessed with her?

Rick forced himself out of his trance. He grabbed Michonne's hands and removed them from his boxers.

"What's wrong?"

He faced Michonne. She was dressed in light blue nightshirt. She smelled of baby oil. Her skin was radiant.

"Our first time, it needs to come from me. You've given me so much, Michonne."

He saw her open her mouth to protest. Rick put a finger to her lips.

"Let the sheriff take care of his samurai tonight."

He kissed her hard and backed her into a wall. He spun her around, raising her arms and pinning them above her head. Rick kissed her ferociously on her neck, making a trail with his tongue from her earlobe to her collarbone. Rick raised Michonne's nightshirt up her back and cupped her breasts. He pushed his body into her exposed flesh, marveling at its richness. Michonne felt Rick's hardness press against her bottom. She wondered if he had undressed since she couldn't see him. She bucked against his body, establishing a slow, torturous rhythm. Rick lowered his grip to Michonne's hips to steady himself, his wet erection sliding between her buttocks. They both gasped as Michonne gripped the wall and arched her back to take all of Rick completely inside of her.

"No." Rick uttered, hesitating.

"What's the matter?" Michonne asked pulling her nightshirt down. She turned to face Rick. Without warning or another word uttered between them, he scooped her up and placed her on the bed. He looked at her. Again he struggled with why such a phenomenal woman would want him. Michonne threw a questioning look at Rick, his gaze stuck on her. His intensity scared her yet sent a thrilling heat inside of her. Rick gaze was unwavering. He kept Michonne's gaze as he removed his boxers.
Rick slid into bed with Michonne. He felt her body shivering. He grabbed her hand.

"Don't be afraid."

Michonne remained silent. She reached out to Rick, touching his face and rubbing caressing his lips. This gave Rick all that he needed. It was Michonne's way of telling him it was safe to continue. Rick pushed Michonne's nightgown above her hips. He gingerly parted her legs, exposing her to him. He rubbed her outer thighs. The friction between her thighs and Rick's calloused hands caused her to clutch the sheets. Their eyes burned through each other. Rick began to alternate his attention between her inner and outer thighs. With each brush of his hands he came closer to her wet, brown sex.
Rick saw Michonne's eyes fluttering. He wasn't concerned that his touch was putting her to sleep. She was aroused, he was sure, but he didn't want her to get too comfortable. Abruptly, Rick stopped at the very top of Michonne's inner thighs. Using his thumbs he parted her lips. She cried out. Rick held her open, calmly watching the array of emotions wash over her face.

"What the fuck Rick!" Michonne pleaded.

He parted her lips wider, then let go. He traced his fingertips over her vulva , making tiny light circles over her lips. He saw goose bumps forming over her body. Rick lowered his head between her thighs and kissed her wetness. He began to swirl his tongue over clitoris. The bristles from his newly shaved facial hair felt like little fingers massaging her vulva. Michonne cried out, realizing that parts of her she felt long dead being awakened by her beautiful sheriff. It was liberating to hear him constantly reminding her that she didn't need to always have it together. He would be there to raise her up, to lift them higher. But all of that didn't matter if she didn't give permission to herself to let go of that desire to always be perfectly in control. Here she was a heap of hot mess under Rick's submission and she was living every minute of it.

Rick felt Michonne shiver, her thighs clasping the sides of his head.

"Not yet." He ordered after rising up from Michonne's thighs. She nodded vigorously.

Rick kneeled down in between Michonne's thighs. He began to run his hands along her outer thighs again. The tip of his penis was sliding back and forth over her clitoris. Michonne squeezed her eyes. She almost zoned out until she heard the crackling of a wrapper. Her eyes fixated on the ceiling as she lost herself. Rick had already worn her out and she worried that she was losing grasp of reality.

"Stay with me Michonne." Rick demanded. He cocked his head sideways, his eyes transforming into a liquid blue, and electrifying her blood. She wondered how long his gaze would last until with one powerful thrust he entered her body. She cried out, her back arching from the bed.

Rick withdrew from inside of her. He pulled her in his arms. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to he hurt you. It's just that it's been so long and I've wanted you since the day I saw you on that horse."

Michonne kissed Rick on the side of his face. " I never told you to stop, did I?"

She saw Rick's doubt. She knew he wouldn't understand. Making love with him would be uncomfortable but it was a good pain that reminded her that she was alive and could love and be loved in a way she never thought possible. She was always aware of her womanhood and femininity. That always meant to her, having it all and doing it all. But now in this very second Rick continued to teach her that in moments of being vulnerable, feeling safe enough to give up control was the greatest gift a partner could give. It was a gift she had never received until this beautiful moment.

Michonne smiled. "Make love to me, Rick Grimes."

Rick gently laid her on her back and fanned out her locks over her pillows. He slid between her thighs and bore his weight on one of his arms. With his free hand he grabbed her hand and slid it around his erection. Rick yelled a blast of obscenities as she guided him inside of her. Her wet grip was instant and he couldn't wait for her to adjust around him. He pumped her slowly, withdrawing at the same pace. They grabbed hands, and locked their fingers together. Michonne's hips rose off the bed. She needed desperately to meet his thrust. Rick slammed into her and held himself inside of her. He gripped onto Michonne so tightly that she couldn't move.

"Relax."He whispered with urgency.

Michonne spread her legs wider. She slid her hands over his buttocks, gripping them and pushing Rick deeper. He ripped off her nightshirt and suckled on her brown nipples. Rick grabbed the brass headboard for leverage and thrusted harder. Michonne cried out. Tears filled her eyes. Beads of sweat from Rick fell onto her body. The bed continuously slammed into the wall. The sound was like a great storm generated by their bodies. Michonne threw her arms behind her body and hoisted herself into the air to meet Rick's thrusts. She was defiant. Her body would not obey her own commands. They convulsed together and cried out in an intensity so alien that at first Rick and Michonne were afraid to look at one another out of fears that they have injured one another. They collapsed on the bed. Rick yanked Michonne into his arms as if she were a possession that he would share with no one. Their bodies were soaked. Sweat, mixed with Michonne's liquid essence was spread all over the sheets.

"What the hell was that?" Rick asked still struggling to catch his breath.

Michonne cackled into his chest. "Are you ok?"

This time Rick laughed. "I'm not sure. I'm more worried about you." He confessed as he raised Michonne's chin with his fingertips. Her eyes were listless.

"You can bet I'm going to feel it in the morning." Michonne quipped.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You made me feel alive tonight, Rick. I can't begin to tell you how much that means to me."
Michonne sobbed. "So what now?" She continued as Rick wiped her tears away. He smiled through his own tears.

"What now? You know what I want, Michonne. Like I said earlier, we've already taken vows."

Michonne looked away. She turned her back to Rick. He enclosed her in his arms. She rubbed his arm soothingly and rested her head on his chest.

"You're the bravest woman I know, Michonne. I just don't get why becoming my wife is so frightening to you."

Michonne reached back and tussled Rick's hair. She struggled with the dazzling prospect of making a lifetime commitment to an amazing man but also committing to a ghost who he and his son never spoke of. A ghost that he would always see in his baby girl.

Rick and Michonne showered and slept the rest of the night in Rick's bedroom. Judith awakened a few hours later and they brought her to bed with them. She laid in Michonne's arms and Rick cradled them. He would do anything for his girls, he vowed.

When dawn broke, Rick got up and dressed. He put his gun belt on. He kissed Judith and Michonne on their foreheads and watched them sleep. He checked Carl's room and found him sleeping. He was astonished that he had not heard he and Daryl come home. Rick went downstairs. He peeped out back. Daryl was washing clothes in a basin in the yard.

Rick went outside and checked the perimeter of the block. He had a new family to keep safe but the burden was suddenly lighter. He once told Carl that he wasn't safe no matter who was around. But now he felt an awakening. He discovered just how powerful a weapon a man had when his family was truly united. Evenly matched and filled with unchecked determination, Rick dared to dream that with Michonne at his side, their family would see the end of the Turn. Rick heard Judith's light cries. He smiled knowing that Michonne was laying in bed comforting Judith. It was a soothing image to begin his day. As he was about to survey the block once more, agonizing screams made him break for the house.

Michonne.

He tore through the door. He sailed up the stairs. It felt like his feet barely touched them despite the loud pounding of his boots. Once he exploded into the bedroom he saw Carl and Daryl at Michonne's side. Daryl was pleading for her to hand over Judith.

"Please don't take my baby from me. Andre don't leave me. He'll be all alone out there."

Carl stood by, helpless. He was unable to process how the woman he had come to know as unbreakable was reduced to a heap of panic. Daryl pushed Carl behind him. When Rick sat with Michonne and held her, Daryl was finally able to gather Judith from her.

"You buried him, didn't you?" Michonne asked Rick.

Stunned, he was unsure of how to answer.

"Andre I need you!" Michonne pleaded, reaching out to Judith who had since calmed in Daryl's arms. Dumbfounded, Daryl and Carl left the room.

"Michonne, come back to me." Rick begged, rubbing her shoulders. For a few more seconds she looked through him. She seemed to relax as she broke from Rick and laid back into the pillows. Rick massaged her back.

When he left her he found Daryl in the kitchen feeding Judith.

" What the hell was that man? And who is Andre. " He asked Rick

"Her son."

"Her son?" Daryl repeated.

"Yeah."

"Michonne had a son?"

"I didn't know until a few weeks ago."

"So what are you going to do man?"

" Would it be asking too much for you to take Carl and Judith out for a while so I can talk to her?"

"You know I've got you, bro."

Rick headed for the stairs.

" You don't think she'd harm Judith, do you?"

Rick stopped and looked down at his feet. He proceeded up the stairs without answering Daryl's question.

He entered his room and saw Michonne laying on her side, wiping away tears.

"I'm so embarrassed." She confessed without looking at Rick.

"Let's talk about this."

"I would never hurt her."

Rick sat on the bed and stroked Michonne's face. " I know. I know you would never hurt our daughter."

"It's the quiet here. When we were fighting for our lives there was no time to think about-

"I know."

"And now it's coming back."

"There are some battles I can fight for us but this one, I can't."

"You and the kids don't need this."

"And for the hundredth time you don't need to always have your shit together."

"I don't want to be a burden."

Rick sighed and decided to press his luck. "For better or for worse, Michonne...for as long as we both live and breathe. One day I hope you'll say those words back to me."

Michonne didn't respond.

Rick punched the bed. "Please tell me what I can to make it easier."

Michonne remained silent.

As Rick got up from the bed Michonne reached back and grabbed his hand.

"What is it? Tell me what I can do!"

"You can make love to me."

Rick shook his head. "That's not going to solve anything."

Michonne sat up. She kissed Rick all over his face. He stopped her.

"Please Rick. I need you inside of me."She begged.

By then, Rick's eyes had welled with tears. They kissed urgently as they cried together. He ripped off her nightgown. They both stood up as Michonne removed all of Rick's clothing.