A/N: Written because of an Ask on Tumblr about what I would like to see in S7.

No matter how hard Rick wrung his hands together, they still shook ever so slightly; a little out of ire, a little out of fear. Fear of uncertainty; fear of losing more people he loved. Though the sun was high in the sky, there was nary a soul wandering the yard save for those on sentry duty. A quietness had fallen over the Hilltop community. A mournful silence that did nothing to bring the ringing in Rick's ears to an end. He drank the last of his water and then placed the empty bottle on the night stand of the unfamiliar bedroom. Wiping his mouth with the back of his unsteady hand, Rick let out a sigh just as Michonne entered the room. She closed the door and then leaned her back against it as their eyes met; he looked as weary as she felt.

"Maggie? How is she?" asked Rick, his voice gravelly and low.

Michonne shrugged her shoulder then shook her head; her eyes closed for the briefest moment.

"I made sure she ate something. She's sleeping now," was her reply as she moved towards Rick and took up a seat on the bed beside him; he nodded and inhaled deeply.

"How're you?" he asked, looking sideways at her.

Michonne held his gaze and brushed a stray curl from his brow before whispering, "I'm okay if you are."

"I'm okay," he offered while taking hold of her hand; he ran his thumb gently over hers. "I have to be."

"You will be," Michonne offered in a reassuring tone.

"Yeah," said Rick. "As long as I got you by my side."

She smiled sadly and lifted his hand to her lips, placing a soft kiss to his knuckles.

"I'm not goin' anywhere," said Michonne.

They sat a moment, not saying anything to one another, yet deep in thought. Michonne thought of how thankful she was that Rick and Carl had survived; Rick thought of how short their time on Earth really was. He gave her hand a squeeze and looked at her again.

"You remember that time outside of Woodbury when you told me I needed you?" he asked as she gave him a puzzled look.

"Don't dwell on the past, Rick," she offered quietly.

"I'm not," he replied. "But you remember?"

"Yeah," she said. "I was just trying to stay alive."

"Well, you were right. I did need you. I was too full of grief and goin' half crazy, but I did need you," he explained. "Not just us as a group, but I needed you. You showin' up at the fence like that, that's when things started to shift for me. I didn't realize it while it was goin' on, but I do now. You helped me be better, stronger. I needed you, I just wish I saw it sooner. I wish I said it sooner; I wish I'd have said it at all. I need you, Michonne. I can't get through this without you. I can't be the man I'm supposed to be without you."

Michonne said nothing, but searched his eyes and knew he was speaking from his heart. She bit her lip as the tears welled in her eyes before saying, "You're the best man I know."

"I don't know about all o' that, but I do know I'm better with you," he replied as he cupped her face. "And I need you."