This story is highly AU and told from the perspective of Michonne, Rick and Carl. It doesn't follow the TV series, game, or the comics in any particular order and though there are characters from the show, game, and comics I've changed them up and rearranged things to fit my story. Comments and constructive criticism are welcomed, but in the immortal words of Erykah Badu: Keep in mind that I'm an artist and I'm sensitive about my shit.

7. Fallin' in Love Again

"Mimi wake up!"

Michonne opened her eyes.

"Hello Judith." She said and smiled at the toddler's face that was hovering only inches above hers.

Judith smiled back. "Let's make toast and eggs." She began to wiggle off of Michonne's bed. A second later she hit the ground with a soft thump and ran into the kitchen.

"Don't touch anything until I get in there." Michonne warned. She pulled her hair up into a bun and slipped on a robe. Judith was waiting for her at the kitchen table watching Doc McStuffins

In the wake of her father's absence Michonne had become the primary care giver in Judith's life. Wherever Michonne went she was right behind her following like a little lamb. In the morning Judith woke her up even before her alarm could go off.

"Mimi let's make cheesey eggs now." Judith insisted from her place at the table.

'Right." Michonne said. She went to the refrigerator and got out the eggs, milk, and, cheese. Judith pulled the little red stool Shane had brought her over to the counter. After scrambling up on to the stool, Michonne gave her an egg and helped her to crack it into the bowl. Carl came shuffling into the kitchen yawned, and then stopped in the middle of the floor and started digging the sleep out of his eyes.

"Morning Carl."

"Morning." Carl said mid yawn.

"Wash your hands and set the table, please."

Carl did as she asked him to.

Michonne's relationship with Carl was different than her relationship with Judith. Their relationship had morphed her into some weird teacher-mom entity. Carl was no longer just a student and she wasn't his mother, but she was more to him than just a teacher. Over the course of less than a summer, she'd become responsible for his physical and emotional needs as well. She wondered what would happen to their happy dysfunctional little family once they all went back to Possum Holler?

A town where racist conservatives lived to voice their opinions. Even she had reservations about dating a white police officer. What would school be like for Carl once the other students found out she was dating his father? What would the other officers say to Rick? What would her colleagues say or not say to her? Things had the potential to become extremely ugly extremely fast, and if things didn't work out she'd be the one to take the brunt of the fallout. Whatever the consequences were she'd have to deal with them, Rick and his children were a part of her life now.

"What would you like to do today?" Shane asked Carl. Shane usually wasn't able to join them for breakfast, and when he did he usually only stayed long enough for a cup of coffee, but today he had a surprise for Carl.

Carl shrugged. Now that things in his life had gotten relatively back to normal Carl had become sulkish. Michonne could hardly blame him, she could tell by the decrease in his cell phone activity that his friends had stopped calling as much as they once had. She couldn't even drive him down to Possum Holler for a visit with his friends since they were both vacationing out of state. She and Shane tried to make sure Carl had fun by taking him all around Atlanta, but it wasn't a substitute for having someone your age to hang around with.

"How about going to see Werewolves of London?" Michonne asked.

Carl swallowed the piece of toast he was chewing on. "Oh my god! I can't believe I forgot that movie was coming out today! " Carl exclaimed. "Please tell me you have tickets I've been dying to see that movie."

"Well I do have a ticket, but I can't take you because Shane has to work and he'll have the car." Michonne explained and winked at Shane when Carl wasn't looking.

"How about after you get off of work?" Carl suggested.

"Ya know I never know when that's gonna be." Shane said.

"Oh." Carl replied and slumped back in his chair.

"Lucky for you my neighbor Morgan is taking his son Duane, and he said he'd be more than happy to take you with him."

"Yesssss!" Carl hissed. "Werewolves of London is the best comic in the world, the movie is going to be so epic

Michonne laughed. She was glad something had managed to make Carl smile again. He'd had a rough life, and now he was having a rough summer, all she wanted was for him to have a little happiness.

"Thanks Ms. Mitchell, thanks Shane." Carl said. He got up from his seat and quickly hugged them both.

Shane pulled some money out of his wallet. "Here." He said handing Carl a fifty dollar bill. "Morgan's going out to eat , why don't you treat Duane, and keep the change"

"OK." Carl said staring at the fifty dollar bill as if it would disappear if he stopped looking at it. "I gotta go find my Blood Fang t-shirt, thanks again!"

"Rinse your dishes off and put them in the dishwasher, please." Michonne said.

"I gotta surprise for you too.' Shane said to Michonne. "My momma is gonna watch Judith today, and you and Rick are gonna spend some alone time together."

"Are you sure, what if-

"Don't worry your pretty little face off, Rick trust my momma, she's watched Carl before. Trust me it's all worked out, ya'll gonna have dinner at the Dragon Palace, and you're gonna have a wonderful time ."

"Thank you Shane, Michonne said finally relenting,

"Rick has been feeling awful he hasn't been able to take you out to dinner."

"That's silly, he was just shot, him taking me out to dinner is the last thing on my mind."

"I know, but you're taking care of his children right now, and I think he needs some way to say thank you.

Shane began to gather up the dishes off the table

Michonne took Judith from her chair, and Judith wrapped her arms around Michonne. "Mimi you my best fend." Judith said.

"Why thank you Judith, you're my best friend too."

Shane smiled. "She's gotten really attached to you. You know you're the closest thing she's got to a momma.

Michonne frowned.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it's just what happens if we go back to Possum Holler and things don't work out between Rick and I?"

"Well you'd still see Carl in school everyday, and Rick would never stop you from seeing Judith no matter what happened between the two of ya."

"What if I couldn't handle it? When he got shot it was like reliving a nightmare, if he died I-" Michonne stopped mid sentence. "I care for him, I care for him and his children more than I ever expected to. I don't know that I could be around Rick if he started dating someone else."

"Are you kidding? Rick ain't gonna date anyone else, he's too sprung on you."

"I don't know about all of that."

"I do, and I've known Rick a lot longer than you have. You make him happy and his children happy. That's all he wants"

"Rick and his children make me happy too, if it wasn't for them I'd probably be at home all alone reliving bad memories and sobbing endlessly over Alley."

"Well there you go, ya'll was meant to be." Shane said. "Now go on and get ready."

Michonne got Judith dressed before she got dressed herself. It felt strange to be going on a date after everything that she and Rick had been through. Their relationship felt more evolved than the time they spent together, yet what did they really know about each other?" What she did know about him was enough to make her want to keep seeing him.

Shane's mother arrived in a whirl of overly teased hair and Tuberose Gardenia. She was tall like Shane and had the same dark eyes. When she saw Michonne she gave her a bone crushing hug that nearly lifted her off her feet.

"Bless you for looking after Rick and his children like this." She said after she released Michonne from her hug. "Now where's that sweet little baby girl?"

Carl brought his sister to see Mrs. Walsh and she let out a whoop. "Ain't she cuter than a June bug, and Carl you sure shot up since last time I saw you." She grabbed Carl up and gave him the same bone crushing hug that Michonne had just received minutes ago.

"Well don't just stand there Shane, take Michonne to see her man. I've got things from here on out."

"Ya ready?" Shane asked.

Michonne nodded and gave Judith and Carl hugs. Judith started to cry as Michonne left without her and she hesitated. "Maybe I shou-

"She'll stop crying as soon as you leave." Mrs. Walsh said. "I've been looking after children my whole life and I know the drill. Go on and have a good time with your man"

Michonne smiled. Shane was a lot like his mother.

Shane dropped Michonne off outside of the Dragon Palace, where Rick was already waiting for her. It was a beautiful restaurant with a huge brass and jade dragon fountain in the entry. When Rick came up to Michonne walking that bow-legged walk she found so sexy her heart did a flip-flop. He looked even more handsome than the last time that she'd seen him. He was wearing a button up flannel shirt and a pair of nice jeans. He'd grown a beard too.

Michonne stroked his cheek, you grew a beard it's so dapper."

"If I knew you liked me in a beard so much I would have grown one sooner."

"I like you anyway I can get you." Michonne teased.

Rick took Michonne's hand a guided her to a table in the middle of the restaurant.

The waitress brought out their menus and they both took a few minutes to look them over before ordering. Rick ordered chop suey and Michonne ordered mu shoo pork.

"I've got some good news." Rick said.

"Really? What is it?" Michonne asked and spread her napkin in her lap.

"I'm recovering much faster than the doctors expected, I might get out of the hospital by the end of this week."

"That is good news. You're children have really missed you."

"What about you? Have you missed me?"

"Everyday."

'Good, I've been counting the days until I can get out of the hospital and be with you all."

"I think Carl might have made a friend." Michonne informed Rick."He's going to the movie with Shane's neighbor Morgan and his son Duane."

"I've met Morgan before, he's good people."

Their food arrived and Michonne's stomach growled. She didn't realized how hungry she'd been. The food tasted as wonderful as it had looked.

"You've got plum sauce on your cheek." Rick informed Michonne. He leaned forward and teased the sauce off the corner of her mouth with his tongue, and then kissed her on the lips. Michonne kissed Rick back She had never met a man quite like Rick, one minute he was goofy and shy, and the next he was a panty dropping Casanova.

"Fuck physical therapy, I think I've found my real cure." Rick said after their kiss was done.

The waitress who had come to give them their bill laughed. "He's good."

"Very good." Michonne replied stroking Rick's hand.

"You're even better." Rick said kissing Michonne again and she felt herself melting.

2

"Those cute girls over there are checking us out" Duane said.

Duane's father had just dropped them off at the movie theater. The whole ride over he and Duane had talked about the comic, until Duane's father had muttred under his breath "Not another damn one."

"What girls?" Carl asked.

"The ones wearing the Death Fang t-shirts, come on let's go get in line behind them."

Carl followed Duane over to where the girls were standing.

"You going to see Werewolves of London?" Duane asked the girls.

"Yes, I've been waiting to see this movie all summer." One of the girls replied.

"Me too." Duane said. "I know this movie is going to be the shit, I must have watched the trailer ten thousand times."

"So you're a Blood Fang fan?" The other girl asked. "I am too, but they were sold out, and I had to wear this punk ass Death Fang shirt instead."

"Death Fang isn't a punk ass Keisha, you are."

"Shut up Tamekia." Keisha snapped back. "Ugh, why are we even related?"

Carl laughed.

"You want to sit with us?" Duane asked. "I'm Duane, and this is Carl."

The girls exchanged smiles. "Sure. I'm Tamekia, and this is my cousin Keisha, who has the worst taste ever"

Keisha stuck her tongue out. "Come on Carl." She said wrapping her arm around his. "Sit by me. We Blood Fang fans gotta stick together."

Carl blushed. This was the most contact he'd had with a girl in his thirteen years of life. Keisha's skin was soft and she smelled like baby powder. He suddenly remember the fifty dollars burning a whole in his pocket, and thought he should buy Keisha some popcorn and a drink, Shane had told him to buy lunch for Duane, but he didn't think Shane would mind if he spent the money on a girl, in fact he'd probably encourage it.

After turning over their tickets the foursome headed over to the food counter to order food.

"I got this." Carl said feeling like a big shot as he whipped the fifty dollar bill from his pocket. He paid for the order and shoved the change back into his pocket, noting that he had enough money left over to buy everybody ice cream after the movie.

The theater was packed as Carl expected it to be, but they still manage to find good seats near, but not to near the back. Keisha sat next to Carl and Tamekia sat next to Duane. It was like being on a double date. Carl had never been on a date before, and he hoped he didn't do anything stupid to embarrass himself. After the lights dimmed and the previews ended Keisha grabbed Carl's arm.

"Here we go!" She whispered in his ear.

Carl wished that she would leave her arm where it was, he like the way it felt.

The movie had turned out to be better than Carl had expected. There were several parts that had been taken from the comics and put directly in the movie, and the actors portrayals of the characters were spot on. Carl liked the movie Blood Fang even better than the comic book one. The group left the theater talking excitedly.

"Do you have time to get ice cream?" Carl asked Keisha. "My treat."

"Ooh I love ice cream." Keisha said and slipped her arm around Carl's again.

Duane texted his dad to tell him they'd be over at the ice cream shop across the street.

Carl paid for everyone's ice cream and then found a table.

"Thanks Carl." Tamekia said.

" Yeah Thanks for the ice cream Carl." Keisha added. "That movie was so good, I want to see it again. We should all meet up and watch it again."

"Hell yeah." Duane said.

"I've still got some of my baby-sitting money left over, I can treat everyone next time." Keisha said.

"C-can I uh have like your number, so we can make plans?" Carl asked.

"Sure, it's 555-2636, dial it and that way your number will be in my phone too."

Carl wanted to do a back flip off of the table. A girl had asked for his number! A girl actually wanted his number! What had started off as the worst summer of his life, was quickly becoming the best summer of his life.

"Got it." Keisha said.

After they finished their ice cream, Carl and Duane walked the girls back over to the movie theater.

"Thanks for everything Carl." Keisha said. "I had a really good time." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

"No problem, let's do it again." Carl said. He could feel himself blushing to the roots of his hair. If a girl ever kissed him on the lips he'd probably implode.

"Man Carl you're smooth as fuck." Duane said once the girls were out of earshot. "Pulling that money out like a boss, he shook his head, my man."

Carl just laughed. "I'm really starting to like Atlanta."

"So how long are you going to be staying with Shane?' Duane asked.

"Don't know I'll probably be here for at least another week or so."

"Good. I've been bored as hell , we should hang out."

"That would be cool. I've been stuck watching Bubble Guppies with my little sister."

"I don't know, I think it be nice to have a brother or a sister." Duane said. "It's just me and pops at our house. It's been that way ever since my mom died."

"Your mom died?" Carl asked staring at Duane with a shocked expression. "Mines too."

"For real, I'm sorry man." Duane replied exchanging his same shocked expression.

"Sorry about your mom too." Carl said.

They were both silent for a moment, and Carl was sure that like him, Duane was thinking about his mother. Carl had never met anyone else who had lost their mother before, in an odd way it was sort of comforting.

Mr. Jones pulled up in his Lexus. "Did you boys have a good time?" He asked once they were seated.

"Yes, thanks for taking me." Carl said.

"No problem, look anytime you want something to do feel free to come on over."

"OK."

When Carl got back to Shane's he was still at work, but Ms. Mitchell was waiting up for him.

"Did you have a good time at the movies?"

"Yeah, and me and Duane are going to start hanging out now."

"That's nice, Are you hungry?"

"No we ate at the movies."

"Oh, well if you do get hungry there's a plate for you in the refrigerator."

"OK, thanks."

"Your dad and I had lunch today, I don't want to get your hopes up, but the doctors think he might be out of the hospital by the end of this week."

"Really? Cool."

"If he is Shane and I are going to throw him a party, and you can invite Duane if you want."

His summer just kept getting better and better. He'd made a new friend, a girl had kissed him, not on the lips but it was still the most action he'd ever had, and now his dad was probably going to be getting out of the hospital early. After such a cruel summer, things were finally starting to look up.

3

Rick was pretty sure his physical therapist, Sven, was raised in a satanic cult. How else could he explain how much the man loved to torture him. Everyday Rick pushed his body to the absolute limit, only to have Sven scoff at his efforts and push him even further. Rick did it, because he wanted to be back to where he was, he wanted to be the man he was before the bullet had torn him apart. He didn't want to become some pencil pushing desk jockey. So everyday he let Sven kick him around the physical therapy room, and when it was all said and done he dragged his bruised ass and ego to the shower and lied in his bed feeling muscles hurt that he didn't even know existed, and then Michonne would come.

She breezed into his room like sunshine on a rainy day. His children always followed behind her looking happy, clean and well-fed. It was because of her that he could focus so much attention on his physical therapy. It was because of her he didn't lie awake at night wondering if his children were being cared for or not, and for that he felt like he could never repay her. There were no words, no gesture big enough for what she was doing.

When they got back to Possum Holler everything would change. She would go back to her house, and he would go back to his and he realized that he didn't want that to happen. He wonder if he'd scare Michonne off if he asked her to move in with him, at least until he was back at one hundred percent. He'd been trying to figure out a way to try and ask her ever since the doctor's told him he'd be getting out of the hospital early. She could even sleep in the guest room if she wanted, though Rick wouldn't mind waking up every morning with her body next to his.

Sometimes after therapy she would lie next to him and stroke his hair until he fell asleep, and he always managed to fall into the deepest most peaceful sleep when she wrapped her arms around him. He had gotten so used to this feeling that he actually craved her touch when she wasn't around. How could he go back to a life where she wasn't in it? It was funny he could survive being shot, put himself though grueling workouts, but he couldn't ask Michonne to temporarily move in with him.

Today when he got back from physical therapy his only vistor was Michonne. Carl was out with his new friend Duane, and Shane's mother had taken Judith shopping. It was the perfect time to ask her. He might not get an opportunity like this again.

"Michonne, I've been meaning to talk to you, not really talk, ask I guess. Or offer or suggest even." Shut up Rick you're rambling he told himself mentally.

Michonne had been lying at his side playing with his hair, but when he began to babble she sat up and backed away. She was expecting bad news Rick realized. He shook his head inwardly he really needed to work on his technique.

"When we get back home things are going to change." He looked at Michonne's face trying to read her expression. It was somewhere between horror struck and confused. Damn why was he so bad at this? "I know you'll be going back to your house, and I know we haven't been seeing each other that long." He scratched the back of his head. "Do you want to move in with me, I mean just for a little while. I know I've asked an awful lot of you, but Michonne I need you in my life."

Finally Michonne smiled, and it was like a thousand angels singing a chorus. "I already told you Rick, for as long as you need me you've got me."

"I do need you Michonne, and not just as someone who watches my children. I need you."

"I need you too Rick." Michonne said lying back down next to him.

"Good, because if you didn't I don't know what I'd do with myself without you."

"You know once everyone in Possum Holler finds out were a couple things are going to get ugly."

"I know, Rick said, but for once in my life Michonne I'm going to get things right. We're a family now and I'm not going to let anyone hurt my family."

Falling in love for the second time was scarier than the first time Rick thought. The second time you knew what you had to lose. The second time around you had time to think of all the mistakes you made the first time, and all of the mistakes you could make the second time. Only nothing about being with Michonne felt like a mistake. Everything about their relationship felt right and he'd be a damn fool to give up that feeling. He'd be an even bigger fool to give up Michonne because what some racist assholes couldn't handle. Whatever happened to them when they got back to Possum Holler was going to happen, he couldn't change that any more than he could change his feelings for Michonne.

"I never thought my life would turn out this way, but I'm glad that it did." Michonne said.

"Me too." Rick said and kissed her forehead. Me too"aid and kissed her forehead. Me too"