Chapter 26:

"Does your head hurt?"

Michonne brushed Carl's hair back from his face, revealing the large white bandage wrapped around his head to cover his eye. The teen gave her a little shrug, "Not really… It just feels weird"

"It will do for a while but you'll get the hang of it", Rick assured from the driver's seat, peering at his son via the rear-view mirror, "I don't think it'll be easy, you have to get the hang of doing thangs differently but you'll figure it out. I know you will"

Michonne wore a little smile as she peaked at Rick, noticing that he was doing his best to keep his son in high spirits. She looked back at Carl, "This would actually be a good time to start training you with the machete"

He frowned at her as best he could, "I can already use-"

"Properly", She added dryly.

Carl gave her an unimpressed look, "And I can show you how to use a gun"

A little gasps escaped her, "I can use a gun"

"Not as well as your sword"

"He has a point", Rick nodded in agreement in the front seat, "Well both of you do. You should be able to use both, you never know what can happen…"

Michonne pulled a face at Carl, leading the teen to bite his lip as he snickered. She was about to respond to Rick when the car swerved from side to side but with control, causing she and Carl to rock back and forth. She looked at Rick with a frown, and saw he was wearing a crooked smile as he peered out the windshield.

After spending weeks at the Sanctuary while Carl heeled, she was looking forward to returning back to Alexandria. She knew Rick was pleased to finally take them home too, as he had been travelling back and forth between the two communities, all while looking out for the group that injured his son. Michonne was secretly surprised that he trusted her to stay with Carl, though she wouldn't have left him regardless of what Rick said. She could see that the teen was trying to put on a brave face, and it pained her to see him struggle, but she knew he didn't want her pity. Carl kept his head up high and continued on with determination.

Spending so much time with him also left Michonne thinking about the Grimes Family often. She wondered if Rick would tell Carl about their relationship, and what that meant for the four of them, as there was still Judith to consider. She worried if the toddler would warm to her quickly or run a mile screaming.

"...And we're home", Rick announced as they followed behind Daryl on the road to the safe zone. The other man had insisted on riding his motorcycle, for reasons unbeknownst to Michonne.

"Wouldn't it be great if someone baked you a cake?", Michonne playfully nudged Carl as she tilted her head towards Rick in the front seat.

"That would be great, actually", The teen quickly played along.

"You get three squares of chocolate and that's it", Rick shot back flatly.

Michonne rolled her eyes, "I guess it will do"

"Yeah", Carl chuckled, smoothing his hair over his bandage as if he were trying to discreetly cover it.

Eugene was the person tasked with opening the gate for the vehicles, and everyone immediately noticed that the man was sporting a sizeable bruise under his eye, taking up most of his cheek bone. Rick came to a rolling stop, opened his window as he squinted at him, "What the hell happened to you?"

Eugene blew out a breath as he shifted from foot to foot, "I think you'd better get in here before I disclose any details about the previous night's events"

Rick frowned at him as he did as suggested, driving further into the community before parking up along the wall. The safe zone looked relatively the same as how Michonne had left it, but she had learnt in more recent years that not all is as it seems.

"Go on? What happened?", Rick quizzed as they all approached Eugene, "Were you attacked?"

"...In a sense, yes", Eugene nodded, securing the second gate that blocked the view to the community, "I was on out here watch last night, only because Rosita needed to relieve herself so I took over. I was standing right there, reading, when it was brought to my attention that someone had gotten into a vehicle, so I went over to investigate and saw that it was Jessie"

Michonne looked from the man telling the story to Rick, who continued to stare at Eugene with great intensity, "Jessie?"

"Yes. I was going to ask her what she was doing, when I was knocked unconscious by an unknown male, who was discovered to be non-other than Negan"

Everyone's eyes sprung open, including Michonne's, but no more than Rick, "What?"

"Your back", Sasha huffed as she jogged up to them, followed by a marching Abraham, "Did he tell you what happened-"

"Where is he?", Rick demanded, looking from person to person.

"They got out", She explained, waving her hand towards the gate, "It was open and Eugene was laid out when I got here-"

"Who was watching them?"

"Bruce was, he said that Jessie came in and held him up-"

"How'd she get him out?", Rick looked as if he was about to lose his mind, "I've got the key-"

"Sledge hammer, she gave it to him… he knocked Bruce out, he's still in the infirmary"

Michonne ran her hands over her hair as she thought, while Rick seemed to get angrier by the second, "I want three people here on look out and two in the tower"

"Got it", Abraham nodded, already stomping in the other direction, but not without placing a heavy hand on Carl's shoulder as he passed the teen.

Rick turned back to his son, "Come on, we'll take you home before we do anythan' else-"

"I'll be fine", Carl insisted, already backing away, "I'll find Judith and head back to the house"

"Are we heading back out?!", Daryl questioned from his motorcycle, already turning around to face the gate.

Rick slowly inhaled, "They could be anywhere-"

"He wouldn't go back to Sanctuary", Michonne announced, "Trying to get everyone back on his side would be too much hassle… and he wouldn't have a reason to go to the hilltop or the kingdom with just Jessie by his side…"

The man all stared at Michonne with pensive expressions as they waited for more information from her, and Michonne racked her brain to come up with something, "The last time he broke out he wanted to get out the area, He didn't see a reason to stay here… Get as far away from here as possible"

"So you're saying we just leave him?", Daryl looked at her strangely.

"I'm saying he's had a head start, and he won't be settling down anywhere soon, he'll know we'll come looking for him", She clarified, "We have another threat lurking in the distance, one that will come for us before he does, so that's the one we need to concentrate on"

It seemed that her last point got through to them, as they both nodded in agreement, even if it was reluctantly. She wanted him back in his cell just as much as the next person, if not more, but the last time they left the safe zone her dead little friend was grossly wounded. They had more than enough to worry about, and while Negan was one of them, he was without an army, And therefore the least dangerous.

However, that still didn't make anyone feel better about his disappearance, least of all Rick. She could see that he was unearthed by the news and she couldn't blame him, since he had only just got his son back to the safety. He could hide his frustrations well to the other residents of the Safe Zone, but once they were in the confines of his home later that evening, he bared himself to her.

"I didn't think she'd do somethan' like this, but I should have. She was trying to help us here and I kept knocking her back…", He fumed, marching back and forth in his kitchen as he raked his fingers through his hair, "I should have paid attention-"

"How would you have known she'd help him?", Michonne argued, leaning against the kitchen counter, "She's the last person I would have expected to do something like this Rick, and I barely even said two words to her"

He released a low growl as he stomped past her for a countless time, but she grabbed hold of his bicep, stopping him from going any further. He exhaled tiredly, "I've got a lot on my plate right now-"

"We have a lot on our plate", She corrected, stepping in front of him, "Why do you keep forgetting that I'm on your side?"

"I don't", He frowned, resting his heavy hands on her waist.

"Then take the word 'I' out of your vocabulary. I'm right here Rick, I haven't gone anywhere", She stressed softly, "I'm with you on everything, believe it or not. Even after you kidnapped me, I still-"

"Here we go", He sighed, dropping his head back as he looked up to the ceiling, "I was wondering when you'd bring that up again"

She bit her lip as she tried to stifle a chuckle, "I think I'd like to remind you about that at least once a day"

His head snapped back down, "Only once?"

"Make that once every hour.", She shot back dryly, leading him to further wrap his arms around her as he laughed, nuzzling his face in the crook of her neck.

"That's fine by me", He breathed, his breath tickling her neck. She hoped to have lifted his mood, if only for a moment, but he still went on to say, "I don't know where to start right now"

"You're allowed to feel that way. I've seen you carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders for quite some time, and I think I've you've been doing it long before any of this happened… but it doesn't have to be like that anymore. I told you I want the same things as you and we agreed on that. If you want me to stand by your side as much as I want to be by your side then let me carry that weight with you", Her hand cupped the back of his head, "We start by making sure we're secure here, and so are the other communities. We make sure that everyone is ready to do this again, and then we go after them. We have to, before they catch us off guard again"

Rick huffed as he nodded, "Alright. That's the plan. That's what we're doing."

"It is. We've already been here before… but this time were in a better position than before"

"I know", He kissed the sensitive skin beneath her ear, "...And I know what position I want you in…"

Her eyes widened as she gasped, "Well, Mr Grimes…"

He snickered as he lifted his head to look at her, "I think we went a little off topic there"

"I think the word 'I' needs to be added back into your vocabulary because that was all you"

He gave her one of his charming chuckles as he swept her off her feet and onto the counter, making his intentions even more clear.

She couldn't blame him, nor could she turn him away. They had been so wrapped up with the situation with Carl and Alexandria that they had neglected the romantic side of their relationship. She didn't realise how much she missed his touch until his hands were all over her body, working urgently to remove her clothes, but she had to stop, "Not here. Bedroom"

He growled in frustration but still carried her in what remained to the nearest bedroom on the ground floor. Judith had long fallen asleep after playing with her brother tirelessly, pleased with his return. Carl complained that he barely slept the night before since he was too excited to return home, so with both children asleep they were free to have their way with one another.

Their clothes gathered in a pile beside the bed once they were removed, and Michonne wasted no time mounting her man once he lay down. His eyes combed up and down her torso as he took hold of her waist while she leaned over him with her hands on either side of his head. She caught his lips with hers and excited him with a passionate kiss, one that made him groan in delight. He always took the lead in the bedroom, and while she appreciates the fact that he was a selfless lover, she felt that it was time that he allowed her to lavish some affection on him.

She lowered herself on his rock hard member with ease, and repaid her with a satisfied groan that came from the pit of his stomach. She moved painfully slow, giving herself a chance to get re-acquainted with all the inches he had to offer.

"I have a feeling that this won't last as long as I'd want it to", Rick complained, planting both feet on the bed as he bent his knees.

She smiled at his little joke as she picked up the pace, rolling her hips forward and back with a steady rhythm. Rick bit his bottom lip in response, his eyes locked on the small space between them. She loved when he watched their bodies meet. The glazed over look in his eyes and the way he would hiss a curse word every so often made her own arousal grow, so much that she found herself bouncing on top of in no time.

"Fuck…", He breathed, his hold on her hips tightening. She thought he was just enjoying the efforts she made, but soon enough she was being met with thrust from below.

"Oh… God", Her back arched as her core tingled with delight, feeling as if she couldn't get enough of him. Her fists balled, gathering the sheets so she had something to hold onto as she moved even faster, "Yes, Rick!"

Her man panted below her, still meeting her with hard thrusts that stroked her hot, wet core. His brow was pebbled in a light layer of sweat, his hair sticking to his forehead. Michonne watched him begin to tense and took it as her opportunity to finish him off with a bang. She clenched repeatedly, creating a pulsing sensation around his member. A garage of curse words shot from Rick's mouth, his brows knitted together at the top of his nose. When he was unable to withstand any more pleasure he held her in place while he rammed himself deep within her once last time, his length jerking sporadically as he met his release.

"God, Michonne...", His chest heaved as he peered up at her with confusion, "What was that?"

She grinned down at him as she reached between her legs, her fingers finding her bud, "I'm not done…"

He huffed, replacing her hand with his own, "I'll handle this. It's the least I can do..."

Michonne really didn't have any intention of falling asleep at his home, but after experiencing orgasm after orgasm from a very generous Rick she couldn't even open her eyes, let alone get changed and leave. He didn't make any attempt to move either, so they lay in bed with limbs tangled together until the morning came and she had to sneak out before the children woke up.

The community was an eerie, but beautiful sight in the early hours. The people on watch sat quietly on the watch towers, or patrolled the streets in a leisurely stroll. The occasional chirp from a nearby bird would catch her attention, forcing her to look up at the pink sky. She made a note to watch the sunrise with Rick when they could steal a morning away, but she knew that wouldn't be anytime soon.

It came as no surprise to her that Lucille was missing from her home. She imagined it was the first thing Negan retrieved before leaving, but she was surprised to find the only picture that the two of them had taken together, missing. She picked her brain trying to remember the last thing he said to her before they parted ways, and when the memory finally hit her, she smiled to herself, "This might not be a bad thing after all…"

It took some planning on all sides to gather the communities together in the coming week, but they were able to safely meet at the kingdom. Ezekiel went out of his way to accommodate everyone and even had his people introduce him in a grand fashion, much to Rick's annoyance. Despite the reason for their coming together, there was a buzz in the air that charged Michonne. She felt confident in every single person that surrounded her, especially the people in her unofficial family.

"You think dad would freak out if I let her ride on Shiva's back?", Carl asked with an amused smile as he handed his sister a piece of fruit.

Michonne adjusted the little girl on her hip as she shook her head at the teen, "I would freak out"

He snickered, "Maybe not then"

"I'm gonna' see if they got anythan' to eat in this place", Daryl rasped, slinging his crossbow over his shoulder as he stepped around Carl.

"Where's Rick?", Tyreese quizzed, looking from his sister to Michonne, "What's taking them so long to start?"

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear", Sasha tipped her head towards the nearest building, where Rick stood with Ezekiel, Maggie and Dwight.

Michonne turned to face them, her attention primarily on Rick. He looked comfortable in front of the sea of faces, ready remind everyone how far they've come, and to inspire them to go further. His eyes locked with hers just as he opened his mouth to speak, and he gave her a little confirmation nod that she reciprocated with a warm smile.

He had only said a few words when Judith began to fuss, gearing up to wail through her father's speech, so Michonne began to shake her way around the residents, hoping the walk would distract her.

"This baby...", A woman issued flatly, stepping in front of Michonne as she reached the benches on the edge of the crowd, "She is not very happy, is she?"

Michonne eyed the woman, as she moved Judith to the other side of her hip, "No, afraid not"

"Such a shame.", The woman spoke coldly with a glazed over expression, "We have not met, your name?"

"Michonne", She replied tightly, slightly distracted by the woman's lack of hair on her head and brow.

"I am Alpha", Was the strangers admission, which came with a ghost of a smile. Her dead gaze fell on Judith again when the girl began to wail once more, leading her to offer, "Enjoy this now, it will all end soon"

Michonne's eyebrows sprung up as high as they could as she stared at the women strangely, "What did you say-"

The crowd beside them roared with cheers, causing Judith to jump in fear and Michonne to take her eyes off the woman for only brief moment, but that was all it took for her to disappear out of sight.

THE END.

A/N: I know I haven't updated this for so long (Sorry!) And when I had sat down to get to work on this chapter I was hit with inspiration for a new path for this fic, so I have a sequel all planned out that will be in rotation VERY soon. Also, please don't hate me. Thank you so much for taking the time out to read and review, you angels!