Hey guys, this chapter is a little bit short but I wanted to show that Rick slowly understands what he has lost. As always, comments/questions are welcome!

CHAPTER TWO

The day started with a pounding headache. Rick opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling above him while the conversation from the previous night whirled around his head.

He had messed up. He had REALLY messed up. And now she was leaving. Oh he didn't mean, she would pack her bags, steal the family silver and flounce out the door. No, he meant she was leaving him emotionally. Or had done so already?

"Now, we don't have anything." Her last words mocked him. "Now, we don't have anything." The words were literally mocking him. He could visualise the shape of her pretty, full lips as she spoke those final words and obliterated him.

Rick rubbed his hand over his face and felt the coarseness of his 3 day old stubble. The hoard had gone but his people were feared dead. And Michonne was no longer his.

He rose from the bed and made his way to the bathroom. He had a lot to do today.

As Rick walked downstairs, he could hear the sounds of his children laughing. He could hear her.

"Judy dear, I love what you are wearing. It's so fresh and unique…..so fabulous darllllliiinnnggg." Rick looked over to see Michonne feeding Judith. Judith laughed at the words Michonne spoke with a massive smile on her face and babbled back at her. Michonne wiped Judith's face and gave a sweet kiss on her forehead.

"I can't believe YOU watched project runway." Carl mumbled while eating his cereal and water.

"What, boy? You think I didn't have a life before all of this nonsense? I hope you know I lived for reality TV…project runway, the real housewives…all that."

"Who was your favourite housewife? Mum loved Nene." Carl said while Michonne looked up from her position with Judy. She smiled an even bigger smile than before and expelled a breath of air.

"I knew I loved you for more than you sparkling wit and your walker killing prowess." She rose with Judy on her hip and moved towards Carl and hugged him. "You sir, amaze me…now change your sister while I clean up down here." Michonne passed Judith over, kissed her cheek and stroked Carl's hair. Carl's cheeks reddened but his teenage angst allowed a little smile on his face.

Carl walked towards the stairs and noticed his dad, standing there, pensive.

"Hey dad."

"Hey son." Rick moved closer to Carl and kissed Judy on the cheek and got a giggle out of her. Carl watched his father silently.

"I'm going to get her cleaned up. I'll see you in a bit" Carl moved up the stairs, leaving Rick still standing by the stair case.

Michonne walked into the hallway and spotted Rick. She put on a smile, not the genuine one she used with Judy and Carl. It was the one she used in the courtroom, when she wanted to hide her true feelings.

"Good morning Rick. There is some cereal left out for you. You should be lucky though, Judy was eyeing it up. I swear that girl could out eat a sailor." She said as she moved around him to make her way upstairs. Rick grabbed her wrist and looked up at her big brown eyes, with sadness in his.

"Look Michonne…"

"Rick, there really isn't anything to say. We are family. We will fight to protect our family. I've spoken to Carl and he understands why I have to move out. But since I'm only going next door to Daryl's, I will still see them every day and be around to help you."

"Michonne I…."

"I'm still here for you Rick. I just need to be there for myself a little more." Michonne smiled sadly at Rick, patted his arm and made her way slowly up the stairs.

Rick looked at her walking away from him.