A/N: Extension of one of my answers to an Ask on Tumblr dedicated to onedayyoujustchange (hope you like the Caryl, babe!); enjoy the fluff!

The nights had begun to grow cooler as the sun had taken to its slumber earlier in the evening; the warm light from a number of kerosene lamps filled the room and illuminated the happy faces of its occupants. Gentle laughter and the clinking sound of cutlery and crockery wafted through the dining area as Rick and Michonne hosted their friends for dinner. Daryl and Carol had made the trip from the Kingdom and Glenn, Maggie and little Hershel from Hilltop to the Alexandria Safe Zone. It was time for the Harvest Fair that Michonne had been instrumental in organizing; an event that was in its third year and a huge success.

Farmers, traders and merchants from neighboring communities found their way to Alexandria to peddle their wares and make connections with others in an effort to sustain their livelihoods. The Safe-Zone was a powerful community with a strong agrarian economy and formidable army. Rick was doing a wonderful job as their leader who brought law and order back to the region as he had brokered many agreements with other settlements near and far. The world was made liveable again, and though dangers still existed, life was much better than it had been almost six years ago when everything had fallen apart.

Michonne glanced over at her husband and smiled at the way his face was bright as he laughed with their friends, their family. It had felt like such a long time since they had visited. Carol and Daryl made the trek more often than the Rhees did, as it was still not safe out on the roads, especially with small children. Michonne could scarcely recall the last time she and Rick had ventured out with Judith; her eyes searched the room and saw Judith and Hershel playing with some toys that their Aunt Carol and Uncle Daryl had procured for them. She smiled and felt her heart swell at the sight of them; a small pang of sadness washed over her a moment as she thought of André and how she wished he was there.

"Hey," said Rick as he leaned closer to his wife and rested his hand on her thigh when he noticed the faraway look on her face. "You okay? You still with me?"

Shaken back to the present moment, Michonne glanced at Rick and smiled at him; she reached up and brushed a stray curl from his brow.

"I'm still with you," she whispered to him, easing his worry.

"Aunt Carol, Aunt Carol!" said Judith as she rushed to the table, bright-eyed with excitement. "Hershel said you brought cookies. Did you bring cookies?"

"Judy, honey, let Aunt Carol finish her meal before you go botherin' her," Rick said softly, but firmly; the small girl looked to Michonne who nodded her head to signal that she agreed with Rick.

"Sorry," said Judith, stepping away from Carol.

"It's fine," Carol said to Rick and Michonne. "Yes, sweetie, I did make cookies. But Pookie here ate a few of them on our trip."

Judith scrunched up her face slightly and looked at the couple before her.

"Who's Pookie?" she asked.

Carol tilted her head towards her beau and said, "Your Uncle Daryl."

Judith burst out in laughter that was so infectious even Pookie himself shared a chuckle with them before taking hold of Carol's hand.

"Why d'you call him that?" Judith asked, now leaning her arms on the table and glancing between them.

"It's a nickname," Carol explained.

"Ain't even a good one," Daryl mumbled jovially.

"Like you can talk," Glenn chimed in. "I seem to remember the nickname you gave Judy wasn't that much better."

"At least it suited her," Daryl retorted.

Judith looked on amusedly.

"What was my name?" she asked and everyone at the table looked at Michonne and awaited permission.

"Well, my sweet girl, that is a story for another time," said Michonne, avoiding answering the question as Judith groaned, knowing her mother was about to insist she turn in for the night. "Because you've got to brush your teeth and get ready for bed."

"Can she have a cookie first?" asked Carol.

"Sure," said Michonne with a smile to Carol as she then turned her attention back to her daughter. "One cookie and then you go upstairs with Carl, okay?"

"Okay, Mama," said Judith happily.

xXxXx

"Was it scary?" Judith asked as she hugged the teddy bear that Rick had given her.

"Yeah, a little," answered Carl as he told Judith about the time Michonne had fought off the walkers with a baby Judith strapped to her back.

"Were you scared?" she asked her big brother? "I bet you weren't"

"Kind of," he replied in earnest.

"But Mama was there and you and Mama never get scared," the small child insisted while her brother smiled.

"Did I cry?" she asked.

"Nope," Carl answered. "You were a tough little baby."

Judith smiled and puffed her chest out; she was happy to belong to a family of strong warriors.

"Daddy!" she called when Rick appeared at her door. "Was I really a tough baby?"

Rick stepped into the room and sat at the foot of Judith's bed.

"Yeah," he said. "And you're still tough now."

"Is that why Uncle Daryl gave me my nickname…that I'm not allowed to say?" she asked with a cheeky grin, causing Rick and Carl to chortle.

"That's exactly right," her father replied happily, before looking at Carl. "I got her, Son. You can head on off to bed if you like."

Carl nodded his head, bid his little sister goodnight and went to see if Michonne needed help cleaning up from dinner. Rick kicked off his boots and settled in next to his daughter; he kissed the top of her head and waited for her to think of what story she wanted him to tell. She chose the same one every night: How happy Rick was when Carol and Tyreese brought her back to him.

…..

After Michonne and Carl had cleared away the dishes from dinner, washed them and then swept the kitchen and dining area, she made her way up stairs. She knew Rick would still be there telling their daughter stories to tire her out. She found Judith yawning and Rick stroking her hair; her eyelids were heavy and she was nearly ready to drift off into sleep, but not before she heard from her Mama.

Michonne made her way into the room just as Rick received a hug and a kiss on his cheek from their daughter; he caught hold of Michonne's hand as he passed her, stopped at the door and bid Judith goodnight and wished her the sweetest of dreams.

Laying down beside the sleepy child, Michonne wrapped her arm around her.

"You had a big day, Baby Girl," she whispered as Judith yawned again and nodded while she rubbed one of her eyes. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes, ma'am," she replied happily.

"What was your favorite part of the day?" asked Michonne as Judith took hold of her hand, threading her tiny fingers through Michonne's long, slender ones.

"Seeing everyone and playing with Hershel. Oh and cookies. I loved the cookies," she said sweetly.

"Yeah, those are all really good things, especially cookies," Michonne agreed, causing Judith to giggle. "Now, you heard a story from Carl and Daddy, so I guess you don't need one from me, then?"

"No, Mama! I do need a story from you. I need you to tell me a story so I can sleep," Judith explained as Michonne smiled down at her, loving how her blue eyes twinkled in the sparse light.

"Okay then," she replied. "Just one story. A very special story that you choose. I'll just go to sleep here for a minute while you think of one…"

Michonne rested her head on the pillow, closed one eye and feigned snoring, much to Judith's amusement; the small girl tickled her mother.

"No, don't go to sleep. I know which story I want already, Mama," she informed Michonne; both smiled as Michonne pressed her forehead to daughter's.

"Okay, Baby. Which one?" she asked while tucking Judith into her covers.

"My favorite one, Mama," said Judith as she settled in closer to Michonne and took hold of her hand once more. "Tell me about André."