"So no sex?"

"No sex."

Rick stared at doctor Carson dumbfounded. Michonne was getting dressed behind the room divider.

"No sex, no stress, no heavy lifting, that including Judith I am afraid." He tossed his medical gloves into the bin, "We need that baby to stay put for at least four to five weeks. She is still very small, she needs to grow and for babies, those last weeks before reaching fullterm are very important."

Michonne came around, feeling very worried, you could just see the weight of the world on her shoulders, "How bad is it?"

"You are already three centimeters dialated, your cervix is thinning out and shorter than I like at this point," his tone was serious, "You need to be very careful and take it easy."

Rick hugged his wife for comfort.

"I will be here in four weeks. I promised you," Carson looked at the couple sincerely, "I have another delivery to take care of at the Hilltop, if there is an emergency, you have Siddiq. He has learned everything I've taught him quickly."

"Thank you," Rick extended his hand to him and he took it, "I will make sure she rests and I won't make any moves for now."

Michonne rolled her eyes at him, but appriciated that he tried to make light of the situation. This pregnancy had been mentally exhausting. Like her body was stuck on fight mode.

They said their goodbyes and Carson stayed behind to catch up with Siddiq before heading back to the Hilltop. Michonne and Rick walked home and he made sure to help her upstairs into their bedroom. He decided not to voice his panic. She needed him to be strong for both of them.

"I'm gonna' ask Enid and Carl if they can spend a little more time with Judith," He helped her on the bed, "maybe we could ask if Enid wants to stay with us for awhile?" he suggested.

She sighed loudly, "She has her own life, we can't expect her to just drop everything and come here to babysit."

"I know she will want to help if we ask," He reassured her, "She is practically family."

"You're right," She snuggled under the covers, "We just have to remember they are teenagers with raging hormones in their bodies and make sure there won't be any funny business under our roof."

He laughed, "Carl?"

"Yes, Carl," She was dead serious and found his reaction amusing, "Rick, I've seen the way they look at each other. They are definately doing more than kissing, probably heavy petting already."

He laughed again In denial, "No they are not."

"Have you talked to him?"

"About what?"

"Sex!" She watched his eyes widen in shock, "I thought you two had that talk like a year ago."

He looked at his feet uncomfortably, "Ugh... I kind of skipped it."

"Skipped it?" She was confused.

"I tried, but he told me no need for that."

Michonne mentally facepalmed herself. Jesus Christ, sometimes she had to hold herself back.

"Ofcourse he would say that he is a teenager." She continued ranting, "I know Carl is very mature for his age because of the enviroment he has been surrounded by since he was a little kid, but we have to make sure they will be safe when the time comes."

"Yeah, you are right," He quickly agreed, "like always."

Michonne lauged a little at that, shaking her head, "I'm glad you can admit that."

Silence landed in the room.

Rick wasn't sure how to approach the subject, he watched her lotion her hands like any other day. She had a way of looking calm even when he knew she was having trouble with her thoughts. She was so used to standing strong.

"You alright?" He asked cautiosly.

"I'm fine," Her eyes met his, "Are you?"

"I'm worried about you," He moved next to her to touch her belly, "and her."

"I worry about her too," She swallowed, heartbroken, "but, I know she is a fighter. She is coming out swinging."

"I can only imagine," He chuckled, "I'm going with Daryl. We need more formula, more diapers, maybe a new changing table and a crib-"

Michonne was quick to protest, "Rick we don't need anything. We have enough formula and we have diapers. I mean we have Judiths old crib, we used to change Judith in the middle of the woods. Remember?"

He shook his head back and took her hands, "No, I want this to be diffrent," his gaze locked with hers, "I want you to enjoy this. I want to enjoy this. With Judith I didn't have time to stop and get ready for her. I want this one to have everything she would have had if the world was the way it was back then."

"Judith turned out just fine." She reminded him, resting her hand on his scruffed cheek.

"Ofcourse she did. She has you."

She smiled.

"Listen," He continued, "We shouldn't even be here. All of this came out of nothing. We worked hard for it and I want to make sure the memories we make now are worth it all."

"Rick," She paused trying to figure out the right words, "it doesn't matter what we have, but I won't be the one to tell you no. You know that. "

"I was counting on it," he smirked at her, "I will stay close so you can reach me if anythang-"

"She is not coming yet." Michonne was determined, "I know. She is not."

"I love you."

"I know. I love you too."

Michonne awoke abruptly to the baby kicking. Her whole body ached as she shifted on their bed.

"Rick?" she called out, but didn't get an answer.

She moved quickly to get up. Her stomach tightened as a contraction took over her body. She had to remind herself to stay calm. She knew that sudden movements could cause contractions and it was normal, but as long as they didn't get stronger or get longer she had nothing to worry about. The contraction passed and she sighed in relief. On the hardwood floor laid his jean shirt. She looked at it and shook her head. If anything was frustrating; it was this. He wasn't the tidiest person, it sometimes drove her mad that he tossed his clothes wherever. She figured Lori was the one to pick up after him so he was stuck in his ways.

Michonne picked up the shirt and smelled it. It smelled of him and she loved that. It didn't bother her one bit that he was probably sweating in it yesterday. She made sure the shirt was relatively clean before putting it on, ofcourse it didn't fit exactly, but she could wear it open over her black tanktop.

She sighed as she caught herself on the mirror Rick had put up. Her pregnant stomach was getting very big. She hadn't even realized it. No wonder she was this uncomfortable. Michonne rubbed her stomach and smiled. She felt so peaceful, eventhough they did not get the best news from the checkup. She had her fears, but decided to fight against the odds once again. They were the ones who lived. That hadn't changed. She pulled her dreads half up with her favorite hair clip. They had found a hot gluegun with Judith and decorated it together. Rick still loved to remind her about at the mess they made, glue mixed with broken seashells was stuck at the end of their kitchen table.

Michonne steadily walked downstairs. Holding the wall for support just in case.

"Rick?" She called out again.

"Michonne!" Carol held out her hand at the end of their stairs and shook her gray head, "You should have waited for someone before walking down."

She smiled at her friend and took her hand, "I'm fine. I'm pregnant, not immobile"

"Still." She pulled out a chair for her as they made their way into the kitchen.

"You talked to Rick?" Michonne slowly sat down and adjusted her position, everything ached today.

Carol poured them lemon tea and took a box of homemade cookies out of her bag and placed them on the table, "He might have poured his heart out on the way out. He'll be back soon."

Michonne nodded, gladly accepting the tea and cookies, munching into one of them.

"Judith is on the porch with Max and her mom. She was good today. No meltdowns or backtalk. That girl has a mouth on her if she chooses to use it."

"Yeah, you can blame Rick for that."

Carol smiled at her and her big pregnant belly. Never In her wildest dreams she would have thought that she would see a warrior like Michonne in such a peaceful place. Her whole aura had changed.

Michonne took another cookie and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you for taking care of her and coming here to visit. It means a lot to everybody."

"I know I should come more often." She muttered in response.

"They need you more at the Kingdom," the dark beauty looked at her friend and raised her brows, "Besides I'm sure Ezekiel would stop sending us gifts like mangoes if we took you in at this point."

"Oh he would burn down the Garden if you did that."

They burst out laughing at the same time.

"On a serious note," Michonne sipped her tea, "How is everything? He treating you alright?" She pointed at Carols almost shoulder lenght tresses, "I love the hair."

"Thank you. Everything... Is good."

Michonne watched her expression closely. Clearly she was happy.

"You miss it?" she pointed at the katana that hang on their living room wall. It wasn't always there, but most of the time these days it stayed on the wall.

Carol was quick to change the subject and her friend was as quick to catch that, she wasn't ready share more.

"I don't know, I feel like we got so used to fighting and barely making it that, this right now," Her gaze hardened as she rubbed her pregnant stomach, "this, and the white picket fence is scarier. Fighting was easier."

"I remember when Daryl spilled that you are pregnant,"Carol smiled to herself and continued, "I thought to myself these two must have lost their damn minds-"

"Wait, how did you hear from Daryl? We told everyone at the same time."

Carol looked at her friend, and waited for her to figure out the obvious.

Michonne rolled her eyes and smirked, that sneaky husband of hers, "That asshole!"

"You never heard that from me," The woman laughed nervously, her voice was soft and quiet, "My point is, I would stare into the ceiling at night and think why on earth did you two do this. After the prison, After terminus, After Negan. Why would you risk it all. Why would you want to take risk that you could lose a child again. "

Her friend listened closely as she talked with glazed look in her eyes.

"Then I finally understood," She took Michonne's hand and squeezed it, "We've lost a lot of people who didn't have a chance to make those choices. Also some of us are too scared to make them and we need nutso's like you two to keep this world going."

She grinned and grabbed her friends hand, squeezing it, "One day, you will wakeup and see all of the good before the bad. I promise you."

Carol smiled a graceful thank you at her, "I'm getting closer everyday."

Their moment was soon distrupted as the door flew open.

"Mommy!" Judith ran into the kitchen and instantly clung to her mother.

"Hey baby, " She awkwardly leaned from the chair to hug her and kiss the top of her head, "I heard you've been having a nice day."

"The best! I rode a horsie!" the little girl beamed.

Carol watched as the pair chit chatted away. The sparkle In Judith's eyes as she looked at Michonne reminded her the way Sophia used to look at her. That innocent and excited look she would get as she explained the simplest things. Judith had made it very clear to her today how her mommy had princess hair and she had a big belly with her baby sister in it. That was all she talked about all day long.

"Now you need to thank aunt Carol for your awesome day," Michonne said to Judith, "and after that go wash your hands. I'll make you something to eat okay?"

"Okay," She smiled back at her mom, and went to hug Carol, "Thank you aunt Carol. I love the horsie."

Carol hugged her back and kissed her hair gently, "No problem sweetheart."

They watched the girl bounce away into the stairs with giggles.

"Judith! No playing! I told you to wash-"

And with that they heard her bedroom door slam shut, she was probably already taking care of her dolls. Michonne rolled her eyes and grinned, "That girl is just something else."

"Product of her stubborn dad and smart mom for sure." Carol winked back.

"You really gonna give her that stupid ass french name?"

Rick side eyed his friend, "It's a nickname," he signaled him silently to go left as they cleared their way inside a supermarket, "And It's not stupid."

Daryl grunted in response, "Whatever."

The store was empty of walkers, but they still made sure to have their weapons drawn. This part of the area they hadn't crossed before, so it meant they could run into anybody.

"You nervous?" Daryl asked him as they both looked around the shelves and took whatever they could find. There wasn't much left though.

Rick swallowed, "Yeah."

"Ya'll will be fine."

Rick looked at him and nodded. Daryl was a man of few words. What he said he meant. They made their way into the baby aisle. He pointed his flashlight at the shelves. There was nothing left.

"Dammit'" He grunted and rubbed his scruff.

"Don't worry about it, Sasha and Abraham got a bunch of stuff from their last trip." Daryl tried to lift his spirits.

"I wanted to find something that was from me." Rick explained, frustrated with the world.

"You made her. That's enough." His friend chuckled as he continued on a another aisle.

Rick did not want to give up. He wanted her to have something, anything at this point. He knew that maybe he was over thinking it, but he could not get it out of his head. He remembered how he bought Carl a pack of pacifiers when Lori told him they were having a baby. He had finished his shift and stopped by the gas station. Behind the counter he saw a simple pack of pacifiers and told the clerk to add them to his bill. The Green and blue pacifiers were everydy there, in his car until he was born. He felt like If he had those, there was no way nothing could go wrong. Then Carl was born, and he finally got to take them out of his car and they were put to good use. He smiled at the memory and how hard it was to get rid of those damn things.

It bothered him that for Judith he couldn't give the same thing. Judith was a blessing, she was not his- he knew that. After awhile he learned to look at it differently. He was grateful that he got a piece of Lori and Shane somehow with him. As messed up as it was, it was comforting. At the end of the day though Judith was his and Michonne's and nobody could tell him otherwise.

This one. This baby. His and Michonne's, it was unfathomable to him he got all of this. All of this, was handed to him by this cruel world. It was like a game of chess. He got something to love and the world would try to take it away from him again. Michonne floored him everyday. Even heavily pregnant, she would try to help with the crops and gardening. She would visit infirmary if somebody was hurt. Her love for their community had no limits. She was such an enigma that it left him speechless.

"Man' you daydreaming about her again?" Daryls head poked from between the shelfs as he pointed his flashlight into his eyes.

The light caused Rick to drop his own flashlight to the ground. He groaned, annoyed with him, "Shit." He leaned down, but ofcourse the light rolled under the shelf. He got down on his knees to grab it, "You should be the one-"

Daryl pointed his light towards him when he seemed to be frozen In his place, "What?"

Rick slowly picked up the tiny pink package and looked at it with the biggest smile.

"Helps to daydream." He said quietly and held the pink pacifiers with joy.