A/N**~~ Hey guys this is that one shot I was talking about. It was a request from one of my newest readers, FashionableObserver *Muah* I love my faithful readers who have become friends and it's always nice to meet new ones as well. You all don't know how much it means to me.

So for this story, we are going way back to S4, right after the prison fell. We all remember a badly injured Rick and Carl escape and were wandering, finding safety in an abandoned house. Michonne slipped back into her old survival routine with new walker pets until something makes her reconsider.

In Clean up Woman, I got to reimagine Richonne's first intimate encounter after ASZ fought off the horde. But, FO wanted it as close to actual story as possible so I rewatched S3- start of 5. You know I'm a smutty writer at heart lol but it's time to try my hand at more introspective writing. So I hope this works *fingers crossed*. But either way enjoy and review! Here's to keeping Richonne Alive!

After but not Claimed

Michonne had been keeping her distance toeing around the borders of becoming a present part of the prison group. Fearful of building bonds with the newcomers the way Daryl had been. The betrayal from Andrea had nearly awoken the level of desire for retribution that she regretfully enacted once before. Instead of pushing that hurt down that time, she accepted it and was able to be there for her friend in her final moments. But it still kept her on the fringe, only allowing for the briefest of moments with the original group. Mostly, Daryl, Hershel, Carl…and Rick.

The fight at the prison and watching Hershel's brutal death prompted her to finally get her vengeance on the Governor and she saved Rick at the same time. But after observing everyone run as the prison fell, she decided it would be easier to just revert back to the ghost she had once become. Another community destroyed, flashes of the refugee camp coming back to her mind. She took so long to recover from the loss of her toddler that after seeing Rick and Carl's boot prints in the mud she figured it would be easier to just not know.

The renewed memories and nightmares of Mike and Terry tormented her. But that walker with the twists and ashen dark skin frightened her so deeply. It placed a mirror up to the way she could wilt, knocking her out of the dreadful trance before it could fully encompass her again. She wouldn't go back there but she knew she had steps to still take to get to where she wanted to be. So she headed back to those dragged boot tracks she found on the path. Reminding herself that she could handle whatever she encountered at the end of this trail.

With his mother, Carl was able to hold a grudge for a long time. Then her inevitable death came swiftly and he had to do what was needed in an instant. Her sacrifice meant he didn't have time to think about it, just act. With his new baby sister's survival at hand, he couldn't dwell on it. After, his father's breakdown meant he had to be strong, so he stuffed it down and used it to toughen up. He would prove to everyone he was ready for this new world.

After they scrambled for safety, the fact that he now had no home and they were about to wander endlessly gave him time with his father. He was angry with him for allowing the prison to fall. For becoming a farmer instead of staying in the fight. He made some allowances for his dad back then, since he knew he was unwell. But seeing the prison blown up and then Judith's carrier covered in blood, had him all out of compassion.

He could make it on his own and do things the way he thought they should be done. He found food, water and dessert. He'd proven to himself with the three walker kills and evading the last one, that he could do this. But that night, his father began to groan, dragging himself to him in the moonlight. He was reminded that this wasn't unearthing that quick response he had doled out to stop his mother's evitable turning.

He didn't want to be alone, he wanted his family back. He was truly petrified of what decisions he'd have to make, of what people he'd encounter and what danger awaited him. So he let him crawl over and awaited his fate.

'Carl. Don't go outside. Stay safe.'

When his dad spoke he was in a state of shock and relief. Sorry for his rudeness while they journeyed to this house. Sorry for the things he had shouted at him while he was unconscious.

Even with all the pain his father was in. His body trying to recover, his thoughts were still about him. His dad's worry was only about his survival. Carl could finally admit his feelings as he wept and held his father's head in his lap.

"I'm scared. I'm scared."

As dawn approached and he fought off the pull of sleep to maintain watch, his dad finally opened his eyes. He grinned because there was still hope. They could have another chance. Even if it was just the two of them.

Rick was still taking in his sons seemingly changed disposition towards him. They sat on the floor together and Carl informed him of his adventures. He was proud that his son had made it while he was comatose. In his moments of waking, he tried to call out for him but his brain would just pull him back under. His hopes before the fog encompassed him were that he not be the reason his son ceased to exist. Saddened that Carl may have to put down another parent, but wanting him to have the courage to end him, if it was necessary. Also worried as to whether he'd taught him enough to survive on his own for after.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be." Carl softly nodded and smiled at him.

Rick considered his son's acceptance while drinking his water as the boy ate dry cereal out of a bowl next to him.

'Knock knock knock'

It startled him and Carl and they tossed their food aside to grab their guns ready for whatever this was. After quickly looking out the window as he struggled to stand and not being able to see anything, he risked putting his eye to the peephole. Whoever was out there knocked instead of sneaking in or firing on them so it had to mean something.

His vision in one eye was blurry from the trauma so he used the good one. But he still blinked first to focus before putting it to the scope. He was overcome with so many emotions but the only one he could readily access was gratefulness. He chuckled at his second bout of good fortune and slid down to sit on the couch.

"What?" Carl anxiously asked with his gun still drawn.

"It's for you." he smiled brightly even though it hurt his face.

Rick remembered the last time he saw her; he'd asked about Carl's whereabouts after she saved him from nearly being strangled to death. And now here she was, to find his boy.

"Dad?"

"It's Michonne."

"No way!" Carl ran to the window pulling the drape back, tapping on the glass to draw her attention.

She giggled and waved back at him coming over to the glass. Rick was already trying to undo the electrical cord that was wrapped around the door knob.

Carl put his gun away then yelled through the windowpane. "Michonne, give us a second to get everything out of the way!" She gave him a thumbs up still grinning.

"Dad, let me get it."

Carl beamed as he nearly knocked his father out of the way to get the clove hitch undone. Rick chuckled more, at his excitement as he stood to move the food out of the way then staggered to the end of the couch. The guys both shifted the sofa out of the way before Carl ran back to turn the doorknob, throwing the door open. He ran out and launched himself at Michonne and she quickly caught him, stumbling back a bit from the force. She leaned over to hug him while his arms had her in a tight embrace around her middle.

It was only when his body trembled did she realize he wept against her. She squeezed him tighter and looked up to lock eyes with Rick who had made it to the threshold. The muffled sound of Carl's hyperventilated cry fought to escape from between them. Michonne could feel the overjoyed tears she had dashed away before knocking reemerge. Her bottom lip quivered as she hugged him even tighter before looking back up. Rick took a shaky step forward, his eyes welling up so that his next step shook them loose to sting his busted lip. He hesitated as to whether he should move in on their moment but Michonne reached a fingerless glove clad hand out to him. Carl managed to turn from the opening provided and nodded to his father.

Rick remembered the way his face looked in the mirror and he knew his cry had to be ugly right now but they didn't seem to mind inviting him into their fold. Carl's welcoming eyes and Michonne's outstretched hand meant everything to him. After all he had messed up, they still wanted him.

He reached out and took her hand, enjoying the fact that she pulled him to her as he stepped forward. Rick caressed Carl's head with his bandaged hand, letting him know that displaying his emotions was something a man could do freely. But he refused to release Michonne's hand so he pressed his body to the back of Carl's and draped the other arm around her.

Michonne whimpered, happy she had taken a chance by coming to look for them. Ecstatic that they were okay, but even more astounded by their greeting of her. Rick's moan as he cried was nearly overpowered by his son's sobs. They all held on as though they were afraid to let go, their tears spilling on to one another.

His ribs hurt whenever he raised his arms but he didn't care, he rubbed up and down her back. The pain was something that he'd gladly accept for this reunion and closeness. Rick instantly thought back to his first encounter with Michonne after he grabbed her gunshot wound.

'Don't you ever touch me again!'

He began to chuckle at the way they both held on to one another. Just that quickly he'd changed the sentiment of their embrace and all their bodies shook in a different way now. Michonne and Carl joined him in his laughter as they slowly pulled away smiling at each other. Michonne swiftly wiped her runny nose with the back of her hand while the guys cleaned their faces too.

Carl squirmed from between them giggling again at the wet spot he left on her shirt. He paused for a second when he caught sight of his dad and Michonne's sustained hand holding. It reminded him of the day in the weapons locker room when she passed his father the bullet she'd found for his Colt Python. It wasn't that long ago, but his increased maturity suddenly granted a better understanding of that interaction and it made him wonder then grin.

"Come in, I found some food." he offered to break the silence and started towards the door.

"Okay." she nodded.

Rick ushered her in, regretfully letting her hand go so she could walk in first. The absence of her warmth immediately noticed as she followed Carl. He tried but he couldn't help it, his eyes just naturally wandered downwards when she walked in front of him. When she glanced back at him he turned to close the front door, hoping she hadn't caught him.

Carl pointed out his findings to show off to Michonne after she took in the space.

"I went on a run, all alone." he proclaimed proudly.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I was unconscious and Carl stepped up." Rick grinned.

Michonne put her hands on her hips. "Did you really eat a whole can of pudding?"

Carl laughed. "Is that how you found us?"

"I tracked you two here from the mess you left in your path."

Rick snickered while watching Michonne smirk and Carl chortle.

"But I didn't find your boot." she raised an eyebrow.

Carl looked down at his mismatched shoes and chuckled again. "That's a long story. But I found books and a few comics too."

"You know I get them after you finish."

"Of course!" Carl gleamed.

Rick shuffled over to push the sofa back in place and she took in that even in his weakened state he was still trying to protect. Protect Carl. Protect her.

"Let me get this cleaned up. I'll take everything to the dining room table so we can organize it. Then we'll know how much we need to ration. What else we need to scavenge for."

Rick and Michonne smiled at him happy to see his preparedness.

"Well, I just want to sit down for a minute."

"Sure, you should rest too Dad." Carl instructed and waited for them both to sit on the couch before he departed.

Michonne laid her head on the couch's back and closed her eyes but Rick continued to shift. She opened her eyes, turned towards him and she fought to hold in a snicker from his struggle to get comfortable. His discomfort didn't make her want to laugh but the fact that he refused to give in. Refused to give up. She admired that about him so much.

The prospect of what this world had become didn't make him flinch, he discovered new ways to conquer. She wanted him to know that those times when he needed to step back weren't born of weakness. It was powerful to watch and blossomed new hope in her.

Once he was eventually settled, she took a deep breath trying to relax next to him.

"I'm glad Carl made the call that day."

"Hmm…at the fence?" she eyed him.

Rick chuckled but winced at the pain it caused.

"Because?"

"You saved me from the Governor. Thank you."

Michonne snickered. "You're welcome."

They calmed and Rick looked around the house that gave them some safety.

"You know, being here with Carl made me think about what it must have been like for Morgan."

"When we found him in King County?"

"No, before that, right after the start. He was alone with his boy, Duane after his wife got bit. He hadn't worked himself up to putting her down, even though he knew that's what he should've done. His hesitation was the cause of his son's end."

Michonne pivoted to look at him.

"I couldn't make the move and everyone's suffered for it. But I have to see the look of disappointment in Carl's face."

Michonne sat up straighter and firmly scrutinized Rick. "You know what happened at the prison isn't your fault?"

Rick exhaled deeply even though his ribs smarted.

"If I listened to you and we had of kept looking for the Governor then maybe…"

"I wasn't necessarily just looking for the Governor while I was out there."

Rick raised an eyebrow and stared at her. "What do you mean?"

Michonne sighed and looked up to formulate her thoughts before she spoke again.

"I was out there alone for a long time before I stumbled on Andrea. I…I almost didn't help her that day. I knew if I did there was the possibility for new connections that could be taken away from me. The risk of loss, it frightened me."

Rick nodded understanding exactly what she meant. He'd been having those same thoughts himself. The council allowed him to begin his healing process and save Carl from going too far. Being down in the garden or with the animals had him away from the new people. It kept him from most of the prospects of further mental harm.

"When I woke up in the hospital all alone and then, what I found when I ventured out terrified me. So to survive I had to focus on something. That something was my family, Carl and Lori." he gestured to his son who they could see was busy working in the other room.

"Once I had the good fortune to find them I was willing to push all the issues we had prior to the side for a chance. She said that was something she wanted too. But there was always a question in my mind as to whether she trusted my judgment, believed in me."

Michonne watched his bruised face with quiet consideration. She had similarly pushed things to the back burner with Mike since they had more pressing matters to conduct, like their survival. Her inability to trust even the people she knew before the world went to hell, had kept her out roaming. Punishing herself for not handling what was right before her.

"After we had to abandon Hershel's farm, things hadn't panned out the way I figured they would. I was with my people but I felt alone again somehow. I began to purposefully isolate myself."

Michonne faintly shook her head in agreement. "I had to make a choice to search for the prison, to walk up to that fence when I saw you. Later on, whether to come back to the prison each time I left."

Rick looked to her in despair that that was even something she considered once they had brought her in. He knew she could take care of herself but he did worry about the kinds of people she might cross paths with. But when he was really honest with himself, it was a fear of his as well that she may just decide to not return at all. The prospect of not seeing her again made him forlorn.

"I almost didn't come look for Carl…and you."

Rick locked eyes with her conveying how much that saddened him even though he understood. He didn't think after the fall that anyone would look for him. He'd lost everyone their home, Maggie and Beth their father. He'd lost Judith.

Michonne could tell what he was assuming and she leaned towards him. "I didn't know if I could handle what I may find." Rick blinked from his disbelief so she continued.

"The possibility of that distress had me going the opposite direction down the road, back to the shadows."

"But you changed your mind." he exhaled in relief this time then shyly looked at her. "You knew Carl needed you."

"Yeah, but I think he proved to us and himself that he's got his own coming of age story to recognize." they both snickered and it caused Rick to wheeze slightly.

He tilted his head and subtly looked at Michonne. "Well…must've been something else for you too."

Michonne's pulse began to race as she gazed back at Rick. She could feel the continuing shift between them. They'd both acknowledged the work they had to complete but something was building.

"Michonne, you ready?" Carl was standing in the doorway when they both looked over. His face showed that he was sorry for disrupting whatever conversation the two adults were having. But Michonne grinned at him.

"Find any clothes?"

"There's a closet full upstairs."

"Let's hit that up first."

"Okay." Carl walked to the staircase waiting for her.

As she shifting her weight to stand she rested a hand on Rick's leg to push off. His heart sped up and a wave of nerves erupted inside him. These were different then the ones supplying him with pain, he'd been feeling these for a while now whenever they were in close proximity. He watched Michonne saunter to the staircase to catch up with Carl who had skipped up the steps. She took a few steps up before she turned back to him, finding him still observing her.

"I'll see if I can find you some fresh bandages and a new shirt, that one is in tatters." she flashed him a toothy smile.

"Thank you." he responded before she continued up.

Rick sat there on the couch and oddly enough thought about his courtship with Lori all those years ago. It had taken time to build a flicker so when the spark hit him from simply locking eyes with the mysterious woman at the fence he thought he was hallucinating again. His mind had conjured up a beautiful stranger to taunt him with. The phone calls tricked him with hopes of safety and the brown eyed woman offered him a glimpse at paradise. Only Carl's questioning of aiding her made him realize she was in fact real.

What he had learned in this new world had been tossed aside, bringing her inside the cell block. Then he believed her and let her lead him to Woodbury. Even after she'd run off on them once they got inside, he let her come back to the prison. He'd chased Tyreese and Sasha's group off easy enough but there was something about Michonne that kept him intrigued. Her presence in some way offered him an escape from this reality.

In his marriage, he had been in a cycle of toxicity that conveyed conflict, turmoil and second guessing as the norm. So whenever these feeling arose he'd fight them off or downplay them. A woman with all of Michonne's strengths would for sure question his campaigns, but instead she backed his plays. Came up with ideas that invigorated him or strengthened what he thought should be done. When he had those episodes of mental distress, everyone else looked at him with concern and sympathy but her gaze was empathetic and encouraging. She didn't cower from the dangers and could save herself. Shit, she had saved him and the others from almost certain deaths on numerous occasions.

But at the end of the day, he was a man and in instances like this, a craving he didn't think he deserved kept surfacing. He'd satiate it with longing glances while her back was turned or like just now watching her go up steps. He's disguise it as purely deriving from his adoration for her skill, intuition and intelligence. But he could feel the rousing inside him and he wondered if she would want to act on it.

Whenever she'd return to the prison he'd wonder if he should take the risk but then she'd head back out on her pursuit or go on a supply run with Daryl. Meanwhile, he was taking a break, becoming a farmer and trying to pull Carl back from the brink. The time was never right so he kept waiting, also knowing that he needed to deal with his demons first. He recognized she had a story of loss to tell and he'd wait until she was ready to share. But he also knew he wouldn't come to her ill prepared, unable to offer her what she deserved.

Back then, there was always the apprehensive thought that she may not return his affection and where would that leave him. He couldn't risk that and send her running again. He wouldn't risk that for his son, he had lost enough. So those fleeting looks had to keep his ever building hunger at bay. Once they were in a better position, he'd contemplate the next move, but for right now survival had to be the main focus.

But Michonne coming to look for them and not any of the others from the prison, solidified them as a unit. What Daryl and him were building was a brotherhood but this was a true partnership. A relationship he'd never experienced.

"Michonne found a first aid kit with bandages and medicine. Oh, and a new white t-shirt for you too."

Carl was carrying Michonne's leather vest when he interrupted his musings.

"Great, I'll head up in a little while." Carl saw his father quickly look to the steps.

"Michonne says she found something to change into also. She's washing her old shirt; she still wants to keep it." he shrugged.

"I'm going to finish my breakfast while I wait for her."

"I should eat too." Rick got up to follow him.

Once they were in the kitchen, he watched the boy bounce around getting a bowl for his meal. While he chose to just pour the dry cereal into his mouth from the bag. Carl started for the dining room but turned back to him just before he made it through the door frame.

"The three of us together. This is going to work Dad."

Rick timidly grinned. "I think you are right."