A/N: Good day everyone! Sorry for the wait on this one.

Thanks to the following for reviewing the last chapter: EisleyGirl; CodeName-Me; megs27; ssaamm23; focusedOnProsperity; songbird11; severelybabykryptonite; Paisley2; KK; Soul93; Alex311; idilisamonalisa; Oridara; ; Vivvy1; LadyLuckAJ.

Thanks to all those silent readers and those who have hit the follow and fave button. You are awesome!

Okay, let's find out what our faves are up to…

"So, you're not comin' with us on that run later in the week, I take it?" Daryl asked as he walked beside Michonne and Judith in the twilight of the early evening.

"Nope. Someone, I won't say who, doesn't think I need to go," she replied, feeling a little bad for letting down the team.

"What's goin' on with you two?" he asked. "He got you on lock or somethin'?"

"No! As if!" Michonne jeered. "I'm just helpin' with the kids."

"Come on! Carl's practically a man and we all watch after Lil' Asskicker. What's the excuse he told you 'cause from where I'm standin', he got you on lock."

"It's not even like that, Dixon. I'm tellin' you, I'm just lookin' out for the kids until he's a hundred percent again."

"You know he was at the fence helpin' to kill a small group o' walkers yesterday while you and the baby were home nappin'?"

"What?" she asked dubiously.

"Your hubby was killin' walkers with one hand," Daryl said. "He didn't look like he needed too much help then, girl. I think he's suckerin' you with them kids and you takin' the bait."

Daryl chuckled that his friend was so dedicated to Rick's children that she could not see that Rick was using it to his advantage.

"It's not like that," she said though she was starting to think Daryl had a point. "Besides, you guys don't need me out there. You got it covered."

Daryl nodded taking in her now sombre expression; he suddenly felt guilty about teasing her. He knew she was very independent, but he also figured out long ago that there was nothing she would not do for Rick and his children; he just hoped Rick was not too aware of this as well, given his friend's feelings for Michonne.

"Yeah it's cool. I'm just playin' with ya. We can handle it, but I'd be lying if I said we ain't weaker without you. Anyways, Rick knows what he's doin'. He knows what's best."

They remained silent until they reached the Grimes residence; they bid each other goodnight and Michonne took Judith inside where Carl had already started to serve dinner. Rick's face lit up when Michonne and Judith entered the dining area.

"We were startin' to think you two weren't comin'," Rick said with a smile.

Michonne smiled back at him and sat the small toddler in her chair and kissed the top of her head.

"We're here now. Thanks for waiting," she said as she focussed more on Carl than Rick.

"We'd never even dream of startin' dinner without our two favourite girls."

Rick said as Michonne took her seat and sighed, thinking Daryl was right; Rick had her on lock and she walked right into it.

xXx

Michonne sat in Rick's room and tried to push the memory of her very vivid dream from her mind. She had no immediate idea where the dream had come from; all she knew was that it was making her feel an odd sense of sentimentality.

She did not recognize the place, but there were a few familiar faces sitting around what looked like a campfire. People were laughing and having a good time while the succulent smell of meat cooking on an open flame wafted around. Someone had gone hunting, Daryl, she supposed; after he had butchered what he had caught, the parts of use were cooked while what was left over remained not far from the fire. Suddenly, someone grabbed what appeared to be the dismembered leg of some kind of animal and proceeded to playfully chase Michonne with it. She squealed as she tried to get away from the offending person and the bloody appendage; vaguely recognizing that she was behaving in a childish manner. There was uproarious laughter as the limb was thrust in the direction of Michonne, once more causing her to squirm. Out of nowhere, Rick appeared and snatched the leg away from the person who was chasing Michonne. He tossed it into the flames and approached her; placing a comforting and protective arm over her shoulder while drawing her near. She rested her head against him and felt safe in his embrace. They remained that way until he led her to a secluded spot and gently kissed her mouth. Michonne then woke up.

Her dream was strange, and left her feeling strange; at one point, she felt like a scared little girl and she did not like to feel that way. She also felt a pang of sadness; she was sad because the gentle manner in which Rick held her in her dream made her miss what was once between them. The way he pressed a soft kiss to her mouth made her crave him, when she was adamant that she did not want to. She realized that being in the house with him must have been causing her unconscious mind to explore scenarios that brought up emotions she thought had gone away. Her mind drifted to the conversation she and Rick had had a few days earlier; the conversation in which he admitted that he did not want her to go on the run. She sighed.

Is he trying to treat me like some little girl who needs his strong arms to protect me?

The thought caused her to feel somewhat irritated. She understood that he wanted to keep her close; she just could not shake the feeling that Rick was treating her like she belonged to him when she did not. Conversely, she felt confused because the thought of Rick being overprotective of her made her stomach do little flips.

xXx

Michonne could always sense when Rick was near. It had started out as something that helped her to survive, being aware of who was around her; and then it was out of habit. They had spent so much time together out on the road that it became second nature. Now, it was something else. It was as if she could tell the sound of his footfalls; she could sense the faint aroma of his musky scent; she would grow alert at the slightest hint of a sigh that escaped his mouth. Even now, as he remained standing quietly at the door of his own bedroom, Michonne knew he was there before she even turned to look at him.

Each greeted the other with a soft smile when their eyes finally met. Rick leaned against the doorframe with his thumb hooked into his belt as Michonne sat on the double bed; his other arm still secured in its cast, hanging freely at his side. Neither said anything for the moment. Michonne took in his appearance; he was still a handsome man, she thought. She then tried to shake the thought from her mind as they were alone in the house in the middle of the day and she did not trust her strange feelings as her dream played again in her mind.

"What're you doing home at this time of the day? You needed something?" she asked after a while, wondering what she owed his visit to.

Rick shook his head.

"Nothin' in particular. The kids are gone with Tara and I thought I'd check up on you, since you're home alone," he said with a smile.

"That's nice of you, Rick. I'm fine," said Michonne.

His smile faded when he noticed that Michonne had her backpack sitting on the bed.

"What's goin' on here? Are you going somewhere?" Rick asked as he gestured to the bag sitting on the bed.

His stomach dropped as he realized that she was doing one of two things; either planning to go on the run with the crew that was leaving after lunch or moving out of the Grimes home. Rick had always thought it was something of a turn on when a woman who could take care of herself. He knew that Michonne was that type of woman; one who could move skilfully with a sword or any other weapon and still be the epitome of femininity. He knew her strength and ability, but he wanted to protect her still.

"I was gonna see if anyone on the crew wanted to trade places with me today," she sighed while averting her eyes.

Rick stepped into the room and ran the back of his hand over his mouth before tilting his head slightly.

"I thought we decided you weren't gonna go on that run?" he asked as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

Upon hearing this, Michonne stood and walked nearer to him.

"No, Rick; you decided I wasn't going. I didn't get a say in it."

"But you said you understood why I don't want you to go…"

"Yeah, I get it, but it still doesn't mean that I shouldn't go," she interjected.

Rick furrowed his brow and grimaced.

"I know you have your reasons. I know you want me near, but why is that? You know I don't need anyone to protect me, least of all you."

Now Rick grew irritated.

"I know you can take care of yourself, Michonne. But it's my decision and I don't want you out there if you don't have to be…"

"You want me here playin' house, is that it?" she scoffed.

"Why are you so keen to get away from me? You were fine helpin' out before. What's changed?" asked a confused Rick; ever since he had mentioned the run and was resolute that he wanted Michonne to stay, she had been behaving as if she could not wait to be out of his sight.

She was still staying in his home and helping with the children, but she had gradually started avoiding Rick.

"What are we doin' here, Rick? I mean seriously, why are you trying to keep me from going outside the walls?" she asked quietly.

"Because you don't need to be out there…"

"I'm not a child, Rick. I don't need to be sheltered…"

"I never said you were a child," he said loudly. "There are others who can go, you don't need to…"

"Oh and you didn't need to be out there killing walkers with your arm in a cast and sling, but I heard that's what you were doing!" replied an annoyed Michonne.

Before Rick could respond, she quickly added: "You don't even need my help, Rick; so why are you taking advantage of me?"

"What? I'd never take advantage of you, Michonne. What the hell are you talkin' about?" Rick asked as he raised his voice out of frustration.

Michonne crossed her arms over her chest and looked to the floor as Rick stepped around her and picked up the backpack.

"I told you outright that you weren't needed out there and that I didn't wanna put you in danger. I don't want you out there when we already have a crew of good people who can handle it. Fuckin' hell, Michonne; I want to keep you safe because I love you! Don't you understand that? But if you think I'm takin' advantage of you, then just go! Here, take your shit and go!"

Rick said as he handed the backpack to Michonne and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

"Fuck!" said Michonne as she tossed the bag down on the floor.

A/N: Oh dear; trouble in paradise. And Rick admitted he loves Michonne. Will she go on the run? Did he mean for her to go and leave his house? Does she love him too?

More to come! Like, really soon; I have the next chapter almost ready to rock and roll!