Pairing: Rick/Kagome

Series: The Walking Dead (TV show)

He girt his teeth to the point where his jaw was sore in order to avoid saying anything. There across from him on the other side of the bon fire was his wife cuddling with his best friend. In truth if they were still in the old world she would be his ex wife, sadly applying for a divorce was no longer possible.

This was the new world, one where nothing made sense and people died and came back every damn day. Ready to tear others to shreds, ready to tear into their former friends and family. To feed.

Lori had left him, having move don when she thought he had been killed, to be with his supposedly best friend. Being the kind of man that he was he didn't fight her decision, he smiled and wished them well. On the inside he was dying, the thought of being with her and their son was the only thing that had kept him going when he had awoken in this depraved new world.

Now she was gone, starting a family with his bets friend. He still had his son but he could tell Shane was worming his way into his sons heart, replacing him. He hated it, yet he smiled all the while as his family was stolen from him by the person he had trusted the most.

He blinked as small hand settled on his shoulder and turned to look at the owner of said hand. He gave the young woman a smile, taking in the way the flames reflected in her blue eyes as she smiled down at him. Her dark semi tangled hair was pulled into a high pony tail to keep them from her face. She wore a pair of jeans and a gray shirt, it used to be white, and a light flannel shirt.

"Come on Rick." Her voice was low so the others wouldn't hear her and with a nod he took her hand and let her help him up and drag him away from the heart wrenching scene. He smiled lightly as she intertwined their fingers and lead them to their shared tent. He paused holding back the flap for her and let her enter first, always the gentleman. Once she had he entered after her and blinked as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

"Don't let them get to you Rick…" He sighed feeling bad as he wrapped her in his arms and inhaled her scent. Even now she cared more about his feelings then her own, she should be mad, pissed that he was still hung up over Lori, yet she wasn't. She understood Lori would always have a place in his heart yet she was quickly taking over and repairing the damage that had been done to it. She had ever since she had waltzed into his life and turned it upside down.

She and her younger brother had stumbled upon Hershel's farm and had asked for shelter, Hershel being the kind old man that he was gave it. Ever since then she and her brother had been earning their keep, and in no time they had a place in their group, their makeshift family. She was no older then Glenn yet she had been attracted to him, much to Lori's annoyance, and had tired her best to help him out.

Being the leader sucked, even when your heart was being ripped from your chest still turned to you, still depended on you. She had helped out, lessening his load with a smile and in no time people turned to her like they had Lori. She had become his counterpart when it came to leading the group.

He wasn't sure when it had happened when heir friendship had become more.

He mused it was after the scare they all had, she had taken her brother and his son out to teach them a few things, mostly tracking. The boys thinking they didn't need her took off on her, she had give chase and saved them form a herd of walkers, almost being killed. Luckily Daryl had trailed behind them and was able to save her before she had been injured, she had made herself the bait so the boys could get away. He would always be in Daryl's debt for that.

That night he had raged, yelled and screamed at the boys and her for being so foolish. Lori jumped to their sons defense and made him the bad guy, taking their son away from him for the night. Souta had merely wandered off with Glenn feeling like crap for almost getting his sister killed.

They had been left alone and he was angry and of so worked up. He had been ready to scold her some more, to make her think about her actions when he realized just how pretty she was. Standing there taking it all in stride and with understanding, her blue eyes boring into his own brown ones. He wasn't sure who lunged at who, all he recalled form that night was searing kisses and blazing touches.

He awoke the next morning feeling horrid, he had acted on an impulse, an urge and he was nowhere near over Lori. What shocked him the most was that she knew and merely gave him a chaste kiss saying she would wait. She was so understanding, he didn't; deserver her.

"Rick, you stop those thoughts right now." He blinked at her low order not at all surprised that she knew what he was thinking and pulled back giving her a small kiss on the forehead. "Sorry." She rolled her eyes and sat down on their makeshift bed of blankets and sleeping bags. "Yeah, yeah. Now sit down, take a load off."

He groaned as he sat down, his body more tired then he had thought. He let out a pleased rumble as she began rubbing his shoulders., working the kinks out of his sores muscles. "Mmm Kagome you're a God send."

She merely laughed lightly and leaned on his back craning her neck to give him a small peck on the cheek. "Nope, just awesome. Old man." He laughed at her playful jab at him and turned around to tackle her to the bedding. Placing a few chaste kisses on her pink lips before settling down to get some rest. "That's not what you said last night."

She laughed at the old corny saying and merely wrapped her arms around him, running her fingers through his hair in an attempt to help him fall asleep. He needed his rest, Lori and Shane rubbing their relationship in his face didn't help at all. She scowled t the thought of the two, she had liked them until they showed their true colors.

Now, now she only tolerated them for the sake of the group and the man she loved. Yet she secretly prayed for the day that everyone got fed up with their antics and she was given the okay to shove her boot clad foot in their faces.

It would be glorious.