"Are you even going to attempt to lift a box?" Rick asked attempting but failing to sound annoyed.

"Nope," Michonne said from the couch checking emails. "I told you that I had work to finish. You insisted that I move in this weekend so have at it."

"Damn Michonne." Shane complained behind Rick. "Your thongs can't weigh this much. What the hell you have in these boxes?"

"Your ego."

"Ouch."

She giggled and kept typing not sparing a look in their direction. "Now put the boxes in the room and keep the commentary to a minimum."

A second later she heard Shane yelp and Rick say, "Watch your damn mouth. You don't need to be thinking about her in a thong."

It was the perfect day out and she couldn't wait to tease Rick even more when the guys left with a skimpy exercise outfit while pretending to go for a run around the block. Any and everything but helping since he was dead set on moving her in a full two weeks before she was supposed to. She realized he was excited, and the truth was so was she. It had been a month since the Negan showdown, two weeks since he and the kids had moved into the new place and he would be starting his new job on Monday. Everything was moving in the right direction. There was a part of her that was still concerned that Negan would appear out of nowhere and cause trouble. Thankfully she hadn't tried any cases with him, and he seemed to be steering clear of her cases, but it was something that stayed in the back of her mind.

"Psssstt." Glenn looked around the corner of the open door. "They still in the back?"

"Yeah, where are your boxes?"

He strolled in and went straight to the fridge to get water. "If they ask, say I brought in those boxes over there," he said pointing to the corner. "But I'm tired. My back hurts. That's enough for me today."

"Back hurting hunh?" She gave him a smug look. "Maggie have anything to do with that?"

His face went red.

"Of cou-"

She put her hand up to stop him.

"Don't try to deny it. She already told me."

"Man, y'all talk about that stuff?"

Michonne shrugged. "Of course we have girl talk. Don't worry. She gave you rave reviews."

Glenn beamed but tried to hurry and wipe the smile from his face as if he didnt care. "You guys shouldn't be talking about that. Me and Rick don't talk about you."

"This from the person who listened to us in the shower."

He turned red again. "For the record I didn't listen…technically. I just heard things, not on purpose."

"You hung around."

"Just to—"

"Glenn, get your skinny ass back here and help put this shoe shelf shit together!" Shane bellowed.

Michonne patted him on the shoulder, pointing down the hall. "You heard the man."

"Damn!"

Maggie knocked on the door with wine bottles in hand. "Knock knock."

Glenn brushed his hand through his hair, automatically squaring his shoulders. "Hey there."

"Don't you have a shoe shelf to build?" Michonne reminded him.

"Why is this my life?" He groaned.

Maggie sashayed over, wrapping her hands around his neck. "Once you wrap up here, how about we head to my place and I can thank you for helping my friend?"

Michonne groaned for good measure but inside she was genuinely happy that they were able to get over themselves and work things out. Maggie for all her grandstanding was genuinely smitten with Glenn. All the things she teased Michonne about just six months ago was now her life. With everything they dealt with on a daily basis, she wanted nothing but happiness for her friend too.

They kissed for a little bit before Shane came out with two plastic bars and some instructions in his hand looking annoyed. "Get your skinny ass back here so we can finish this up. I got shit to do."

"You mean Andrea?" Maggie asked.

Shane turned to Michonne. "Damn you told her?" He scoffed and turned back to Maggie. "Mind your own business."

"You're always in everyone's business," she shot back reaching for a wine glass.

"Where's ours?"

"You can have a treat when you finish," she said handing Michonne a glass and working on the cork.

"A treat? What are we dogs?"

Michonne chortled. "I don't think you want us to answer that."

He walked back down the hall grumbling. "Hurry up Rhee. I'm not going to be here all day while this asshole plays house and you play kissy face."

He really needed to get to Andrea quick and get some, she thought to herself. Maggie got ready to pour her some wine and then hesitated. "Are you sure I should be giving you this?"

"What do you mean?" She looked at her liked she'd grown two heads.

Maggie shrugged taking a sip of her Cabernet. "I don't know. You've been a bit tired lately. You two are rushing to move in and everything I just figured you were possibly.."

Insane. Maggie was clearly insane. Her world had changed enough lately and the reason she was so tired is because much to Rick's chagrin she was on her period so he wouldn't be getting any sex later even though she was sure he would try and coax her later in the shower. "I'm not pregnant Mags," she whispered.

"Really," she looked her up and down. "I mean because you look a little…"

"Finish that sentence and die." She took the wine from her and poured more into the glass. "I'm bloated because I'm on my period right now thank you very much."

"Okay Okay," Maggie said backing away quickly and not attempting to take any of the cookies that Michonne suddenly had in her hands either. "And I thought you were going for a run later?"

Michonne rolled her eyes. "I am. That's why I can have cookies and wine now. It's all about balance."

They settled into the sofa listening to the guys argue in the back. "So, I see things are going great with you and Glenn."

Maggie attempted to steal a cookie but not without blowing Michonne off. "Don't try to change the subject. When are you getting knocked up?"

"Have you lost your damn mind? Look around. We are moving in together. We are not married. Why are you in such a rush to have me barefoot and pregnant?"

"Oh that's just a matter of time, please stop using that as an excuse plus a ring doesn't mean a thing. You two are as good as married. At least you guys have gotten crazy ass Lori and Negan under control. That was the biggest hurdle"

"For now," she added.

"Did something else happen?"

She shrugged. "No."

"Then live in the moment. I'm sure it's fine. Nothing is going to happen. You've come out the other side." She took Michonne's hand in hers. "Be happy. And you have me to thank for it."

Michonne rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh here we go with this again. Enough already. I get it. We have you to thank, you're the whole brains behind this operation."

"No but really." Maggie got serious, which she rarely did and that got Michonne's attention. "How are you really doing? You're right, T=his is a lot of change for you and I just want to make sure that it's all okay. I know I like to give you shit but I want to make sure that—"

"I don't go running for the hills," she laughed off. Maggie knew her all too well. Her predisposition to running when things got tough and just being comfortable with her work was her baggage. She wasn't one to deal with the hard stuff. That was reserved for the courtroom. "No definitely no running this time."

She laid back against the sofa, Maggie mimicking her position on the other side. Honestly, it felt good to talk about this stuff with someone. It had been ages since she kept a journal but lately, she felt like she needed one. Like her heart and mind were about to explode but in a good way. Maggie, the ever-patient friend sat and waited her out while she took another sip from her glass and sighed. "I was going stir crazy at home. I mean I was here a lot of the time anyway and then would sleep over some nights, some nights I would go back to my apartment but the truth was, it didn't feel like home anymore."

Maggie smiled. "Well you know what they say. Home is where the heart is, or some silly phrase like that."

They both laughed. "Yeah and my heart wasn't in that apartment anymore. I loved my place. It was cozy, quiet, all me. Remember when I first got it?"

Maggie huffed. "Oh boy do I remember. I didn't see the potential in it but"

"But I did. It was the first place I got on my new salary and I was excited to make it my own but now with Rick and the kids," she paused and swallowed surprised by the emotion swelling in her chest. "I belong here Maggie."

Maggie sat up reaching for her hand and squeezed it. "Yes you do. This is your home now. Ring or not. This is your family Michonne."

She shook her head and took another drink to hide the tears that threatened to fall. "I've been teasing Rick making him seem like an ass for wanting me to move in so quick but I'm happy he did. The other night we played hide n seek with Judy for like 2 hours. I thought it was silly at first but I laughed so hard I almost choked. Woo, that girl had some energy. It was crazy, I had this shit day dealing with the Wilson case and came into Carl and Judy fighting over his video game and Rick attempting to make dinner in the kitchen and I just forgot about all of it. "

They knew all too well the sacrifices of the job. Seeing the darkness through the day and trying to chase a little bit of light off the clock. "I get it," Maggie said. "That's why I gave this thing with Glenn a chance. We deserve happiness too and not to be drowning in the shit we see every day. I know it hasn't been easy with how you came up and everything, but you're changing that. Making your own family and your own memories. Breaking the cycle. I'm proud of you."

Thoughts of her mom and dad had been on her mind more so in the past month. Her mom working all those jobs to make ends meet, being at home alone, her dad passing away losing sight of his dream. She could barely remember the times they had together, the three of them as a happy family. All of her memories were shrouded in her dad's illness and losing him so quickly. Seeing her mom be blindsided by the loss. There were times that she thought taking the risk to love wasn't worth it but the peace she felt in Rick's home, their home, made the decision easy for her. She was ready to leave her past behind.

"You know," Michonne looked over the couch to make sure that Rick and the guys were still safely tucked away in the back and whispered, "I have been thinking a little bit about what you brought up earlier."

"What?"

"Ya know, about having a baby."

Maggie grinned. "I know, I just wanted to make you say it."

Michonne threw a pillow at her. "Hey, you almost made me waste wine on this very nice sofa of yours." Shifting the pillow behind her, she laid down and got comfortable again. "Continue."

"I was tucking Judith in the other night and she wouldn't let me go. She was trying to put me in that hold that whenever I moved it would wake her up so I would sleep with her all night," she said smiling at the memory. "And I thought that I love this little girl so much like she's my own. And when I finally maneuvered myself out of her grip, I went in the living room to find Rick and Carl talking. I think it was about Enid. Carl looked embarrassed but when Rick was powering through the conversation and didn't notice, Carl was looking at him like he was his hero. There was so much love in his eyes, no matter how much he dreaded talking about the birds and the bees with his dad. So, it got me thinking, that maybe not right this second but in a year we could have one of our own. Judy's getting older and— "

"So are you," Maggie added.

Michonne wanted to slap her but the thought did cross her mind. She wasn't getting any younger and there was the concern that maybe something was wrong. What if she couldn't get pregnant?

Maggie interrupted her. "I can hear you thinking from here. I was joking. You have time hypothetically, but I think that man of yours," she said pointing to the back, "is ready whenever you are."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

"These instructions don't make no damn sense," Shane groaned, throwing one of the legs down.

"Would you chill out?" Glenn said picking it up and instantly putting it where it belonged. "If you hurry up then you can go and get some from Andrea and stop being so damn pissy."

"Oh so now you're the poster boy for relationships now that you finally got Maggie to give you some lovin."

"Some lovin", Glenn mocked his Southern accent. "How does she even put up with you?"

Shane got quiet while Rick chuckled at both of them.

"What you all happy about back there Giggles?"

Rick smirked and set the last piece in Michonne's ridiculously large shoe rack. "Nuthin. Gotta say I do miss hearing this everyday." He had no regrets about leaving the department and had a much clearer head about the decision in the month he'd had off. He burned his vacation hours, spent a ton of time with his kids and got to experience life for what seemed like the first time in a long time. He even took the time to go to the Cold Case headquarters and meet with Tyreese and their new boss. They had good chemistry already and he was confident they would get along just fine. Tyreese had the same gentle spirit as his sister. Cold Case wasn't as fast paced but what stuck out to him was Tyreese talking about his wife Karen and how much time they got to spend together. Karen was pregnant with their second child and not only was he able to make almost every doctor's appointment but got to drop their son off to school every morning before going into the office. It was ideal. He hadn't realized how much the job loomed over him until he didn't have it anymore, but he did miss Shane's smart mouth and Glenn's constant aggravation with it.

"We miss you too man," Glenn said. "Not the same without you but the new guy is getting there."

Shane scoffed remembering the first week with the new recruit. "He's damn near a mute. Doesn't say too much."

"You should take the hint," Glenn said. He was getting much better at the quips and had stepped into his own now that he wasn't the most junior detective anymore. "Darryl is fine. Just because he doesn't need to talk all the time doesn't mean anything. He's proving himself."

Shane tried to act like he wasn't convinced but Darryl had grown on him. There would never be a replacement for Rick, but they were finding their groove, just like he and Glenn had to in the beginning. "Yeah well I'm going to keep an eye on his ass. Anyone who is that quiet is usually up to something."

"Speaking of up to something," Rick interjected, "Just what is going on with you and Andrea? You've been more of a bastard than usual since you and her got together. I thought getting some on the regular was supposed to put you in a better mood."

Shane grunted and placed the shoe shelf in the closet. "Ok what's next?"

Rick and Glenn exchanged a look.

"What's going on?"

"C'mon man. I'm not about to be sitting around sharing my feelings and shit like you two pussies do all the time."

"Seriously we don't do that all the time. Just every now and then. Maybe it will help." Glenn cajoled him. "What's up?"

Shane shrugged, rubbing his hands through his hair. Sharing feelings was definitely not up his alley and Rick saw he was struggling.

There was a time right when his divorce was happening that he kept hoping that people wouldn't keep asking him about his feelings. He stepped forward and put his hands on Shane's shoulders. "Whenever you're ready to talk. We're here. Ok?" A few simple words that Hershel spoke to him that made all the difference. He didn't feel pressure but knew he had an outlet if he needed one.

"She's starting to talk about getting engaged and shit," he finally said after a few long seconds of silence.

"Holy shit," Glenn said. "To you?"

"Yes, me dickhead."

Rick couldn't blame him for being scared. Shane sat next to him more than enough times at the bar when he drowned his sorrows about Lori and he slept on his couch a few times when he didn't have the strength to go home and fight anymore. "And that scares you to death."

"Weddings and babies and shit. Don't get me wrong, that's perfect for you candy asses but not me," Shane said standing up to put some distance between them. He went and sat in the ridiculously ugly brown lounger in the corner of the room that he couldn't believe Michonne allowed Rick to keep.

"Do you love her?" Rick asked.

"Not that simple man. You should know that better than any of us."

Rick nodded. It wasn't a slight even though it may have come off harsher than Shane intended. "Actually I do. If you're in love her, that's enough of a foundation for you to want to work on the other stuff. I wasn't in love anymore. If you're not ready, you're not ready but you have to really sit back and think about why you're not ready. Nobody can answer that but you."

Shane nodded, accepting the advice. "You think Michonne's ready? For marriage?"

Now it was Rick's turn to shrug. He had the ring back from the jewelers, sitting in his dad's coat pocket in the back of the closet. She had so much stuff piled in there he was confident she would never find it. "Don't know. I don't wanna overwhelm her. I got her to move in, that was a big step. The rest will come when it comes."

"Bullshit," Shane barked in laughter. "You know you want her down at the courthouse with another little Rick in her belly like yesterday."

He took a sip of his beer and looked towards the closet. Truth was he couldn't wait to slip the ring on her finger and if she went off the pill then he would be ecstatic. "Of course I do. But I'm waiting on a sign."

"Like what, a shooting star or something?" Glenn asked, grabbing a bottle of beer from the dresser.

"Nah, something that tells me she's ready. Everything's good right now. I got her here. The kids are excited, I'm excited. That'll do for now. When the right person comes along, there are some things you're willing to compromise on. I'll take Michonne any way she will have me."

They sat there thinking about their respective situations. They were all happy in their own ways in different phases of their relationships but at least they had each other to work through some of the rough spots. Glenn couldn't help but laugh to himself about the irony of scolding Michonne about her and Maggie talking about him when they were sitting around doing the exact same thing.

"I think it's getting serious with me and Maggie."

Shane and Rick broke out into laughter, Shane choking on his beer.

"What?" Glenn asked

"No shit Sherlock," Shane said throwing one of Michonne's shoes at him.

Rick couldn't let it slide either. "We appreciate your confession Glenn. Really."

"Speak for your damn self. Ray Charles could see that the two of you are serious," Shane added.

"Not necessarily. I'm serious about her it doesn't necessarily mean she's seriously about me."

Well damn. They were really all just laying it out there today. Glenn was there for Rick a lot over the past couple of months so he felt like he needed to return the favor. He tiptoed to the door and closed it looking over his shoulder.

"What's up?" Glenn asked noticing his odd behavior.

"Ok. I'm going to tell you something but if you say anything Shane's going to be arresting me for homicide. Your homicide. Get my drift?"

Glenn agreed and swallowed hard. "Got it."

"Ok, so you know Michonne's over here a lot and I may have overheard a conversation or two between her and Maggie."

Glenn's face lit up. This was what he needed and ignored the voice in him that said he may be invading her privacy. Maggie was hard to read and had such a carefree spirit that he needed some type of reassurance that it was more than sex between them. Hot sex but still he wanted more.

"Well?" Shane coaxed.

Finally, Shane had come in good for something, Glenn thought to himself.

Rick pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let me put it like this. You've got nothing to worry about. Ok?"

That was as much as Rick could divulge without worrying that Michonne would have his balls in a blender.

Shane looked annoyed. "That's it?"

"That's all he's getting. If he can't read between those lines then he shouldn't be a detective."

Glenn was grateful. It was enough to put his mind at ease. They weren't rushing to the altar or anything but it was good to know he and Maggie were on the same page. "That's enough. I appreciate it man."

Shane finished the rest of his beer, throwing the bottle in a garbage bag near him that held the trash they collected from the room. "Well, I think I've had enough of you pussies for one day. I'm heading over to Andrea's. Maybe talk to her."

Rick patted him on the back. "Good for you man."

He eased out of the touch. "I need to go find my nuts because clearly there ain't any around here."

"Yeah, yeah."

Shane opened the door quieter than he realized with Rick right behind him. Maggie and Michonne were still in the living room talking but not as hushed as before.

"You mean to tell me that I'll be a godmother soon?" Maggie shrieked.

Michonne shushed her and the guys stalled in the hallway, careful not to move.

"Not tomorrow. I want to talk about it with Rick first. Don't you open your damn mouth and say anything to Glenn."

"Cross my heart and hope to die," she agreed hugging Michonne to her. "I'm so excited."

Before Rick could make a sound to make sure he didn't invade any more of their privacy, Shane leaned into him whispering, "Well I'll be damned. If you were looking for your sign that it's time for that proposal. I think you just got it."