In my story universe, Glenn did die on that raid with Nicholas (I hate that guy!) and Maggie is pregnant.

In the TWD show however I think Glenn will be back. I'm just killing him off in mine for the drama.

I wanted this chapter to concentrate on the key people in Michonne's life...to show she is loved by more than Rick Grimes.

Thank you to Vegaslover, Michonnegalaxy and Nay766 for your comments. It nice to know people are reading what I'm writing.

Please rate, favourite, comment & follow if you like what I'm doing.

CHAPTER 4

"Girl, why are you in my house? Making it smell like Vanilla and shit."

Michonne looked up from the book she was reading to see a weary Daryl. Luckily he had come back safely. As had Sasha and Abraham. Glenn wasn't so lucky. Michonne stood up, put the book down and walked towards him. She smiled up at him and opened her arms. As always, she approached Daryl like a scared animal. She didn't want to startle him but she wanted him to know she was happy that he was back home safe, with family.

After a moment of stiffness, Daryl relaxed and put his arms around her for a second. He then pulled back and looked at her closely. She knew he was waiting for an answer. Michonne sighed.

"I've helped myself to your home. I hope you wanted a house mate." Daryl continued to stare at her intently.

"Ok, ok. I never knew the country boy act you put on could be so intimidating." Michonne chuckled as she went back to sit on the couch.

"Me and Rick have had a…parting of the ways. I needed my space and the first place I thought of coming to was here." Still there was no response from Daryl.

"Seriously, are you going to torture this outta me?" Michonne put her hands through her long locs as if she was trying to find comfort.

"Ok, basically I thought Alexandria and this new life would be the opportunity to live again. I thought I could grab a little bit of happiness I had before this shit storm. I was wrong. My best friend doesn't think of me this way. He thinks, well thought now I guess, of Jessie that way. So that's it. That's my sad story of rejection."

Daryl's gruff voice cut through the discomfort she felt.

"He loves you, you know?" he said.

"I know that but it's not in the way I need." Michonne said.

"Hey missy, don't interrupt while the man of the house is talking." Said Daryl as Michonne guffawed in amusement.

"Rick, well he does love you. I know it. How many times have I caught him staring at your ass? How many times have I caught him staring at you, period. He loves you the bones off you. He trusts you. He obeys you. He is just being a pussy."

Daryl sat himself down on the couch and took Michonne's hand. "This place messes with ya head. There's a reason I go away to scout with Aaron and it's not because he's pretty! I don't want to forget who I were before I got here. It's what made me. It's what will get me through any shit thrown my way. Rick, he's scared of the man he is. He doesn't understand that because of that, we are alive. Now once he gets that through his thick skull, he'll realise what he has in you. Not just as a warrior and a soldier, but as a fine ass woman."

Michonne was stunned. This had to be most Daryl had ever said to her, or anyone in the group. She felt privileged and honoured that he cared enough to try and make this situation less painful. She clutched his hand and smiled gratefully.

"Now woman, enough of this talking. Where is my dinner?"

Daryl stood up and walked to the kitchen. Michonne could only chortle in response and follow him.

The following morning Daryl made his way to the Grimes house. As usual, he didn't knock and made his way to the kitchen.

Lil asskicker was sat in her baby chair, swinging her legs like a crazy person. As soon as she saw Daryl, her little legs went into overdrive and held her hands up to be held.

Judith's frantic movements alerted Rick to his friend's presence. Rick turned around from making breakfast and moved towards his friend. He smacked Daryl's shoulder in greeting while Daryl did the same. Daryl then moved around Rick to grab at the baby.

As soon as Daryl lifted Judith to him, she settled and laid her head on his chest and played with the various badges and buttons on his vest. Daryl then turned to Rick.

"You OK?" Daryl said gruffly.

Rick knew what he meant.

"Yeah" he said.

"Is she ok?" Rick asked.

Daryl looked up from the baby and pinned Rick with a look.

"As Glenn woulda said, you are a dumbass. But yes she is fine."

Rick sighed and rubbed his hands in his hair.

"I know, I know. I fucked up! I hurt her without meaning too. I hope we can move past this." Rick whispered, almost to himself.

"Yeah, you will. Michonne is over it. She just wants it not to be awkward between you two. She's out with Jamie now. She's got this new fitness regime going on, wearing lycra and shit. She says she's exercising to keep fit. I think she's on the prowl. I'm gonna have to act like her daddy and keep the tomcats at bay. That Jamie will be the worse of 'em, I bet you that."

"What do you mean, wearing lycra? And who's Jamie?" The thought of any one becoming close to Michonne made Rick feel uncomfortable.

"Anyhoo, I've got work to do. Michonne told me to tell you that she's going to pick Carl up from school and hang with him for a while at our place. That OK?"

"Yeah that's fine" Rick said absently.

Daryl kissed the baby on her forehead then handed her back to Rick. The sound of the front door closing pulled Rick from his revelry.

She really is trying to move on, Rick thought. He never really believed this would happen. He hoped she would come back. He hoped they would continue to co-parent the children. And as good as a person as Michonne was, she didn't let down the kids.

But where did it leave him?

Carl and Michonne sat on the living room floor, in front on the fire place. Carl had sourced new comics through the local kids and he was sharing them with his best friend. While he was sad she didn't live with them anymore, he understood it. Carl had experienced a lot of change in his short 15 years but as long as he had his family near, he felt like he could deal with anything.

"You going to the sucky party Deanna has planned tonight?" Carl growled at her. Michonne was shocked at how manly Carl's voice sounded. It was a source of amusement for her but embarrassment for him.

"Yes I will be attending the sucky party, as you put it. Actually, I'm looking forward to adult conversation and fine wines." She said in mockingly.

"Fine wine, huh?" Carl said.

"Yes, sonny I was cultured back in the day. I was a social butterfly. I'm kinda looking forward to getting a little bit of that back."

"You've changed, Michonne. What happened to the fierce lady who ate a possum like it was caviar." Carl said laughing as he spoke the words.

Michonne laughed. She loved the kid. She loved his fire and hit quick wit. Whatever nonsense that was going on with his father, didn't dilute her love and devotion for him and his sister.

"Speaking about the party, come upstairs with me and help me find something to wear."

This is when the role of best friend/surrogate son got too much for Carl.

"Uhhh no. I'm outta here. This is girls stuff. Have fun at the ball, Cinderella." With that Carl bowed towards and Michonne and stomped out of the door.

For the first time today, Michonne was alone and she was happy with it. Daryl had gone for dinner at Carols's. And she had seen Judith earlier in the day. As for Rick, well they were still funny around each other. But she could see the end of it. She was moving on and God knows, Rick already had.

A knock on the door reverberated through the home. Michonne stood up with her trusty katana in her hand and opened the door. It was Maggie, Sasha, Tara and Rosita.

Michonne invited the ladies in. Maggie looked drained and tired. But it wasn't surprising with all she had gone through. In the early days, Michonne thought the pain of losing Andre and Mike would overwhelm her.

"Maggie, have you eaten?" Michonne said. Maggie looked at her blankly.

"I'll take that as a no. Come one ladies, let's see what we can find in the kitchen."

The evening had gone well. Tara, Sasha and Rosita had talked up a storm, anything to let Maggie forget her reality, for even just a second.

"Abraham is rampant. I'm telling you! I think it's the red hair. It's like he's trying to act like Thor or something!" Rosita said, finishing on a laugh. Both Michonne and Tara snorted in laughter. Maggie even smiled. Sasha rolled her eyes comically.

Maggie was pregnant. Tara had a new love interest too, Dr Cloyd. Sasha was still morning Tyrese and Bob but was making her way out of the cloud of grief. The world continued to turn. There were still walkers on their doorstep. There were still people trying to take what the group had. But there was hope too. Hope that they could have a semblance of a real life.

These brave female warriors around her gave her confidence. Life would get better.