Thank you to everyone that took the time to do one or all three: read, favorite and review my work. The 1st chapter was my FIRST attempt at writing Fanfiction, and I seriously didn't think anybody would read it. I stumbled on Fan-fiction just this year and fell in love with it. Thanks everyone for being so kind, y'all make me so happy! :) Sorry it took so long for me to add the new chapter. I had a lot on my plate this week. I hope you like it.

CodeName-M.e: I'm glad you liked it even though it made you cringe. Glad I could evoke that reaction from you.

Guest1: Yes, I agree. Rick is a fool :)

Guest2: I'm glad you took some time to say you liked my story. A little sad though that you're not a Richonne shipper though lol. And to be completely honest, I have never heard of Luke Bryan. I'm from NZ and country music isn't that big here.

Guest3: I think it's clear to everyone but Rick how attached his kids are to Michonne.

simple1234: I'm glad you're hooked! I honestly didn't think anyone would read this.

songbird11: There will definitely be someone else in the picture for Michonne. Rick is in for a rude awakening.

focusedOnProsperity: Yep, Rick is indeed an idiot. I'm a fan of your fan-fic by the way :)

Babe Malf: Thanks! :)

cacalier8503: So glad you enjoyed it. :)

idilisamonoalisa: Thank you so much. This is my first attempt at writing fan-fic or just any fiction really. I'm glad you liked it. :)

CallyGreen: Thanks for reading!

Oddkatout: Thanks for saying that :)

Carl knocked loudly on the door. He was starting to grow impatient, as it was the fourth time he had knocked without a response. He looked over at Michonne wondering what she was thinking. She sat on the top step of the front porch; quietly watching their neighbors go about their everyday activities.

"I guess they're out. Probably at the mall or something." He said sarcastically, trying to break her from her pensive state.

"Yeah. They're probably picking up some coffee for everyone. Oh god, I hope they bring me back a churro." She said with a bright smile as she looked back at him over her shoulder.

"Why do you do that?" Carl said slightly vexed as he ran a clammy hand through his hair. Her smile was getting under his skin and he couldn't understand how she could smile at a time like this.

"What?" She looked at him perplexed as her smile faded.

"That. Act like everything's OK?"

Michonne shrugged and took a few moments to organize her thoughts. "Um...because it will be. I still have you and Judith. I still have a family. There is still so much to be happy for. To be grateful for." She stood and walked over to him. "Besides, this is what your dad wants and there's nothing I can do about it."

"Yeah, but the thing is, you can do something!" Carl was nearly yelling at her. Frustration over the whole situation getting to him.

"Carl, please." Michonne said in a calm and even tone, trying to diffuse his sudden outburst. "I don't understand why you're upset with me... If I've done something..." She placed one hand on his shoulder trying to get a read on him. There were so many instances that she viewed Carl as a young man, mature beyond his years. But now all she could see was a scared child, trying to keep himself together. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

Ashamed that he would raise his voice when speaking to her, Carl quickly averted his gaze when he heard her apologize. He took a deep breath and tried to control his tone. "No Mich, I'm sorry. You don't see it. But I do. Everyone does. You just have to sh-"

Carl was cut short as the front door swung open with such force that the whole front porch reverberated. A disheveled Daryl emerged. His eye brows arched as if to say, what do you want?

"What's all this?" Daryl asks, looking at the bags, then looking back and forth between Carl and Michonne. "One of y'all thinkin' bout movin' in?" He could sense some tension between the two, so he asked once more. "Carl? Mich? What's happenin'?" Still no one responded.

Not wanting to waste another moment standing and staring at each other, Daryl walked forward and picked up the two duffel bags and took them into the house.

"Hurry up and get in here. Just finished feeding Judith...she needs to be burped." Daryl said tiredly walking further into the house. "C'mon, I ain't got all day!"

"So le'me get this straight? He's moving his lil wifey in and kickin' family out?" Daryl said in disbelief.

"Not exactly..." Michonne sat on top of the kitchen island thinking while Daryl paced slowly. She was grateful that Carl let them talk privately in the kitchen while he looked after his little sister on the front porch.

"Then what Mich?" He was starting to get irritated. Thinking to himself that there was no way Rick would ever kick Michonne out.

"He'll need the space." She said matter-of-factly.

"And we don't? That don't make any sense. We were only given two houses when we got here. It's crowed as it is."

She took a deep breath the looked Daryl in the eyes. "I just can't...I can't see them together. Playing house and..." Her voice broke. Unable to go on, she took a deep breath and cast her eyes to the floor.

Daryl stopped pacing and looked at her seriously. Unsure how to respond. It was extremely rare for Michonne to show vulnerability. She always seemed so in control of everything. And now his friend sat in front of him on the verge of breaking down. "That bad, huh?" He managed after a few seconds.

"Yeah." She said as she quickly slid off the island and walked over to the window. She hoped that by putting some distance between them, Daryl would not be able to see the pain etched on her face. "I think I'm in love with him." She said in a low voice. Uncomfortable to admit it, even to herself. "I'm a fool to think we could have been something." Michonne quickly brushed away solitary tear that rolled down her cheek. She chastised herself inwardly, trying to regain more control of herself.

"You ain't no fool." Daryl walked over to her and draped his arm around her shoulders. "You ain't. We all thought it too. Y'all were getting pretty close. Rick's a dumb ass." He didn't bother to look down at her face as they both looked out the window. He felt her pain and he knew there was nothing else he could say that would help her. They stood there for a few minutes, then he gently squeezed her shoulder and turned to walk towards the staircase.

"Wait, Daryl!" Michonne called out to him before he could leave the room. "You didn't say if I could stay. Can I? Please?"

"You thought of stayin' with Gabriel and Morgan in the chapel?" Daryl asked turning slowly to face her.

"No. Please, no. I can't stand Gabriel." The look on Michonne's face was so desperate that he couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah," Daryl said still snickering, "thought so. OK. Move your things in my room."

"Your room? Are you sure?" Michonne asked, feeling guilty that she might be intruding on his personal space.

"Well if you thinkin bout bunkin' with Rosita and Abraham or Glenn and Maggie or Tara and Eugene, then be my guest. Plus I got twin beds."

"You weren't kidding about it being crowed over here" she chuckled at the thought. "Plus, it'll be just like old times." She said, thinking about the times they had to sleep in close quarters while pursuing the governor.

"Yeah. Just like old times..." He smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "But for now, please le'me sleep. Got in at four in the morning. And Maggie woke me up to look after Judith before she left." He rubbed his tired eyes and turned back to the staircase. "Oh, and uh...I got you a little gift from my trip. It's in the fridge. Enjoy" He didn't bother to wait for a response and left.

She stood there smiling at her friend, thinking how lucky she was to have him in her life. Walking into the lounge she could see Carl and Judith sitting on the porch swing. She gathered herself mentally. Telling herself over and over again that it would OK no mater what. "No time like the present." She said to herself, as she walked towards the front door to tell Carl the news and bid him and his sister a farewell.

Michonne sat in the lounge for an hour after her talk with Carl. Her body slouched on the sofa, mirroring how beat down she felt. Her uniform was dirty from patrolling the walls the night before. Yet, there was still so much to do before she could shower and sleep. She sighed heavily and didn't know how much of this she could take. The look of anger and sadness in his eyes as she hugged them goodbye. The way he walked away from her - head held high; refusing to look back at her when she called out to him. It broke her heart. Michonne lifted her wrist to her face. "Only 10:40am? Fuck..." She mumbled to herself. Feeling drained, both physically and mentally. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on what needed to be done. Talking to her new housemates and Deanna would be easy. But the conversation she would have to have with Rick filled her with dread. Her heart rate began to rise and she could feel her emotions bubbling up. She shook her head and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Michonne sunk down further into the sofa. She knew she had no fight left in her. Her body felt weak and heavy against the soft fabric of the sofa. Without knowing, she drifted off to sleep.

Loud foot steps echoed throughout the house as Maggie walked happily towards the kitchen. Feeling the presence of someone, she came to a halt and pulled her knife out of it's holster. She carefully looked around, gingerly placing one foot in front of the other. Careful not to make a sound. Turning the corner she found Michonne sleeping soundly in the lounge. She was haphazardly strewn across the sofa and drooling. She smiled and walked over. Maggie knelt down beside her friend and gently nudged her shoulder.

"Hey you." Maggie said softly as she smiled from ear to ear.

Michonne awkwardly sat up, looking around the room in confusion. "Hey." She smiled back at Maggie; wiping her drool from her mouth.

"I'm home for lunch. Want me to make you something? I feel like I haven't seen you in such a long time." Maggie stood and walked into the kitchen.

"Um, yeah. I'll have whatever you have." Michonne called out to her as she ran her hands over her hair and shirt. She quickly rose from the sofa and followed Maggie into the kitchen.

"You OK?" Maggie asked, giving Michonne the once-over and noticing that she was still in the same clothes she had on the night before.

"Um, yeah. I asked Daryl if I could move in and he said I could have the spare bed in his room. Is...is that OK with you?"

"Of course! You're family. You really didn't need to ask. But thanks for being courteous." Maggie smiled and continued to move items around in the pantry.

Michonne boiled the kettle as Maggie continued rummage through canned goods. She began to feel nervous and looked for anything else to do. Maggie had a way of seeing right through her and she was not ready to relive her pain. Fortunately for Michonne, her friend was too preoccupied to notice. Maggie's eyes were transfixed on all the food she had gathered and placed on the counter: a tin of instant coffee, container of sugar, a loaf of bread, two bowls of instant ramen noodles, and 6 large plums.

"That's a lot of food." Michonne stated with wide eyes.

"I'm hungry!" She exclaimed and playfully pushed her friend as they both laughed. Maggie retrieved two mugs and started shoveling heaped teaspoons of coffee and sugar into them. "Mich?" She asked seriously, not looking at her friend.

"Yeah." Michonne said cautiously; fearing that she could see right through her facade of confidence.

"I heard from Glenn that Rick and Jessie are getting serious. Even moving in. Is that why you're here and not there?"

"Yeah." Michonne straightened her back and held her head high. She steeled herself knowing how Maggie would react.

"Oh, Mich. I'm so..." Maggie began to try and comfort her friend, but stopped mid sentence when she noticed Michonne's rigid body language. Maggie knew that Michonne was not ready to have this conversation with her. She smiled awkwardly, hopping that maybe they could revisit this conversation at a later time. "Never mind." Maggie said as she pat Michonne's shoulder. She walked around the counter picking up a knife and started cutting into the loaf of bread.

"So." Maggie began carefully and watched her friend closely. "Deanna is throwing a welcome party for Morgan. It's been two months since he got here. But, I guess she thinks it's time for a little morale boost. But personally, I think it's more for Reg. Just something to keep his memory alive." Michonne nodded in acknowledgement, but refused to meet Maggie's eyes. Maggie continued, hopping that Michonne would at some point contribute to the dialogue. "So please, pass it on to Daryl. Everyone has to be there. After lunch, I'll be going from house to house to inform the community." She let out a sigh. "I don't get these people sometimes." She shook her head disapprovingly. "I feel like we're just wasting resources." Maggie glanced at Michonne and could see the gears turning in her head.

"Hey," Michonne finally looked up to meet Maggie's eyes, "do you think you could do me a favor? I haven't showered or slept more than a couple of hours, and you'd really be helping me out."

"Sure. What?" Maggie retrieved the kettle and poured the hot water over their noodles and into their mugs of coffee.

"I know you said that I didn't need to ask. But could you inform our housemates that I've moved in, so they're not shocked when they see me walking out of Daryl's room?"

Maggie laughed thinking how scandalous that would be. "Oh my god, that would be some funny shit. Yeah sure, I'll let them know."

"Oh and one more tiny thing." Michonne inched a little closer as if she was divulging a secret.

"Sure. Go on, what is it?" Maggie's said curiously.

"I know you're going to see Deanna sometime later on. Could you please ask her if our group can move into Jessie's old house, when she's done moving into Ricks. We could have three houses. Spread out a little."

"That's a great idea. Some of us might even be able to have our own rooms. Yeah sure, I'll do that." Maggie liked the thought of having more space. She opened the fridge door to retrieve a bottle of water and saw something at the bottom left hand corner of the fridge. "Mich, I think there's something in here for you."

Curiosity getting the better of her. Michonne walked to the fridge and looked in over Maggies shoulder. Inside was a dirty white plastic bag with big bold letters written on it. FOR MICHONNE ONLY. DON'T TOUCH.

Maggie chuckled and shook her head to mimic disapproval. "It's from Daryl ain't it? If anybody didn't know better, they'd think y'all were an item."

"We're not. But I do love that man." She chuckled to herself thinking about how much of a geek Daryl could be sometimes. Michonne pulled the bag out of the fridge. It was deceptively heavy. Excited by the prospect of what could be in the bag, she rips it open. Inside are two full boxes of Big Cat candy bars and a bottle of Château Lafite 1787. She grabs the bottle out and runs her thumb across the faded lettering. Memories of her father receiving a bottle just like this from a wealthy client came flooding back to her. Looking over at Maggie she whispers "This bottle is worth $100,000... Can you even believe that?"

Maggie eyes grew big. "Really?!" She gasped. "You sure there ain't nothing between you two?" Maggie said in a mischievous voice while looking at Michonne's extravagant gift.

Still in absolute disbelief, Michonne ignored Maggie's question. She placed the bottle back into the plastic bag and shoved it into the fridge. "I've got to go." she said quickly, running out of the room and up the stairs.

Unable to contain the excitement welling up in her she jumps onto Daryl as he slept.

"What?!" Confused and disoriented, Daryl tried desperately to regain his bearings. "Mich, what? What...what's going on?"

She loosened her death grip of a hug on him and sat up. "You are the best. You really are Daryl Dixon."

"And you're just figuring this out now?" He smiled, still feeling a little groggy.

Michonne laughed and looked down at her friend. "That is one expensive bottle of wine. Like 'sexual favors', type of expensive. 'Have me any way you want', type of expensive." She said coyly, trying to feign seduction by batting her eye lashes wildly.

"What?! Get out of here, you trouble maker!" Daryl tried to maintain a stern look of disapproval, but his voice was filled with laughter.

"What? Not interested?" She said, pretending to be disapointed. "I'll have to be Carol, right? In order for you to take the bait?" She smirked.

Daryl grabbed the pillow behind his head and began to playfully hit Michonne. "Shut up!" He yelled as they both erupted in a fit of laughter.

"OK, OK. I get it." Michonne moved to sit at the foot of his bed. "It's our little secret." She paused for a moment before looking at him seriously. "Promise."

Daryl looked over at her while his smile dissipated. "You know. You and I are in the same boat. Carol really likes Tobin. They seem to be spending a lot of time together." He sighed heavily and placed the pillow back behind his head. "Fuck this place." He uttered miserably.

Michonne nodded. Knowing all to well the sting of unrequited love. "Well," she replied sadly, "you're going to love what I have to say next. Deanna is hosting a party tonight. It's compulsory. So we'll both have a great time together staring at all the happy couples."

Daryl groaned and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, lookin' forward to it."

Maggie placed Michonne's food into the microwave after her unexpected exit. She chugged down her coffee and quickly ate her noodles and bread while leaning over the sink. Michonne and Daryl's laughter permeated through to the kitchen. She smiled to herself, thinking she had never heard either of them laugh so earnestly. She picked up her three plums, shoved them into a bag and quickly cleaned up after herself. Maggie left out the back door, thinking that maybe there was more between Michonne and Daryl. And if she thought it, surely others suspected it too.