A/N: Taking part in helga-leakadia 's May Writing Challenge for my OTPs on Tumblr. If I was working as a writer for TWD, I would have simply gone with this arc and not the mess they gave us.

Rules: 1 fic per day for the month of May, any length, but must include the quote!

Day 1 Prompt: "What the fuck were you thinking?"

Pairing: Rick and Michonne Grimes

Summary: Rick is a little reckless in handling a horde of walkers, and Michonne is not impressed.

Words: 834

Warnings: Language; ZA Gore; Slight Angst; Physical Injury.

The soft streams of morning light drifted through the thin lacy curtains as Rick crept back into his and Michonne's bedroom. She was still fast asleep, with her pretty face bathed in light. She always looked like an angel, especially when she was deep in peaceful slumber. Rick kneeled gently on the bed and pressed a loving kiss to her bare shoulder. She stirred a little but did not wake. He stared at her a moment longer, and then left to start his day. He would love nothing more than to stay in bed with his beloved, but duty called. Rick picked up the radio from the side table, placed it in his bag, and left his wife to rest further.

…..

The cracking sound of the axe connecting with yet another walker's skull was drowned out by the grotesque moaning of the horde. There weren't many of them, by Rick's account; maybe ten or so. Normally, he would not expend the energy on such a small group, but they were close to the road that led to the Alexandria Safe-Zone. He could handle them, he mused. Total cakewalk. And it was, for the most part. Rick cut them down like blades of grass under a lawnmower: Quick; efficiently; and like he was made to do it. However, he was not counting on losing his footing, and falling against a particularly sharp section of a broken fence.

"Fuck," he said, as he checked the damage; he had torn up his right arm badly.

Rick fished the radio out of his bag and called Rosita who was on sentry duty at the gates.

"Rick? What's up?"

"Can you let Siddiq know I'll be comin' through the infirmary?" he asked.

"You okay?" Rosita queried.

"Yeah, just got banged up a little," Rick replied. "Bit of a gash on my arm."

"You want me to tell Michonne?"

"Nah," he proffered. "It ain't nothin' to worry about."

…..

"It's nothin' to worry about?" Michonne asked incredulously as Siddiq patched Rick up.

"Yeah," said Rick. "I'm fine, 'Chonne. It was nothin'."

Michonne let out a loud sigh, and Siddiq said, "I'm just gonna give you two a minute."

Both Rick and Michonne gave him a grateful look as Michonne said, "Thank you."

She then turned her attention back to Rick as she frowned and said, "You were out there on your own, Rick. What the fuck were you thinking?"

"You're overreacting, darlin'," said Rick with a sigh of his own. "I'm fine."

"Don't do that," she replied. "Don't minimize my concern, Rick. If there's more than five walkers, you call for help. No excuses."

"I had 'em under control," he said, as he stood and walked closer to Michonne; he reached out and placed both hands to her upper arms, rubbing in a soothing manner. "I just tripped and fell on my ass. And that was after I dealt with 'em."

Michonne stared into Rick's eyes. He always had this way of making her feel calm, even when she was terrified. And dread must have settled into her deep, brown eyes, because Rick narrowed his gaze and tilted his head to the side.

"Michonne," he said. "What's goin' on? You look – you look scared."

She let out shaky breath and said, "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."

"Sweetheart, we've had this conversation," said Rick. "If anything happens, you keep goin'. You keep livin'. You lead this place; you lead our people. That's what you do. And you don't gotta worry. I'm here now."

"You have to be more careful, Rick," she said, almost pleadingly, as tears filled her eyes.

"Hey, now," he whispered, drawing her into a hug. "Shhh don't do that. Don't be upset. I'm here."

"I can't do this without you."

He kissed the side of her face and said, "Yes, you can –"

"No, you don't get it," she said, inching away from his embrace. "Things've changed. You can't be out there taking on groups of walkers on your own. It's too dangerous and I can't do this without you."

"Do what, 'Chonne?" he asked, searching her worried eyes.

"I can't go through this pregnancy without you."

"What?" he asked as he knit his brow, and then widened his eyes, absolutely astounded at her revelation. "You're pregnant?"

She gave him a soft smile and gestured down to her tummy, before saying, "Yes."

Tears fell from Rick's eyes as his heart filled with an overwhelming sense of joy. He and Michonne shared a loving kiss. They drew apart slightly, and she cupped his face and said, "Do you understand, now? You need to be more careful out there, because I can't raise this baby without you."