A/N: Hello, pilgrims! Thanks for taking the time to read, review and follow. I do appreciate it so much. We're going to step back in time a little with this instalment.

garnet0183: I do think they're lining something like that up for S6; this wait is killing me! Lol

CodeName-M.e. – seriously you hit the nail on the head here; Rick is this fierce leader who is on the frontline fighting for survival and giving orders to everyone, yet in his own home he's at a loss for words when it comes to talking about his feelings. You know, Lori (RIP) had a point when she said he didn't communicate well.

Guest: Exactly! They are both on the same page when it's about survival, but can't get it together when it comes to their feelings!

Guest: Oh yeah, Rick's got some grovelling (and thangs) to do lol


Sometime ago…

Michonne rubbed her hand over the back of her neck as she closed her eyes and stretched. The day had been a tiresome one with everything that had occurred; she removed her windcheater and leaned back into the chair as she listened to Rick's even breathing. He was still unconscious from when she had struck him in order to save him. Carl had stopped by momentarily; she had told him his father was stable and that he should return to their home.

She was about to take a drink from her water bottle when she heard a gentle tapping at the door to the room; seconds later, Carol stepped inside.

"How is he?" she asked in a concerned manner.

Michonne took in her appearance and wondered why on earth she was trying to fool these people into thinking she was something she was not. Michonne always believed that you did best when you presented yourself as you were. No masks; no subterfuge. She was convinced that this new place was making her friends and family act in odd ways.

"Still out," she replied, waiting to see what is was that Carol wanted.

"I just don't know what's happening with him," she said softly, aware that Rick was in the room with them and somehow wanting to afford him some consideration while he was taking a prescribed and uninvited rest.

Michonne nodded.

"I think we were almost out there for too long," she explained, referring to their time on the road.

"This place is almost too much," Carol said.

"Yeah, it's certainly got everyone actin' strange," Michonne said, purposely hinting at Carol's own behaviour.

"I mean, I guess it's only natural for Rick to act this way. It's been a long time since he lost his wife," she said as Michonne sat up straighter.

"I suppose everyone needs some kind of companionship."

Carol continued before whispering the next part: "I just thought he'd have more sense than goin' after a married woman, considering his past and what happened with his wife and best friend."

Michonne furrowed her brow; she was surprised by what Carol was telling her. She looked at Rick who was quietly snoring away.

"I never really knew what happened with his wife," she whispered, hoping the conversation would cease.

Carol sighed; she had gotten Michonne's attention.

"Well, let's just say there was a possibility Judith belonged to his friend," she said in hushed tones.

Michonne shook her head, not feeling comfortable with hearing gossip about Rick.

"That's why I was so shocked that he'd be fighting with Pete Anderson over his wife; surely Rick knows what it feels like," Carol added. "Silly, Rick. Hope that tap to the head you gave him snaps him out of this infatuation."

Carol stood and looked over at Michonne; her friend did well to hide her disappointment, but it was in her eyes. Carol knew that there was a deep connection between the two of them; a connection that was going to become problematic for her plans in the future. She did not want to cause her friend hurt by divulging this information and expounding on it, but it had to be done. She needed to drive a wedge between Rick and Michonne and this was one way to do it.

Michonne swallowed hard as she let the information sink in; she nodded to Carol who let herself out. Michonne then let her gaze wander over to a still sleeping Rick as she shook her head and wiped her mouth.

xXxXx

"Is it true, Rick?" Michonne asked of him as he leaned against the wall after having regained consciousness.

"I don't know what you want me to say here," he answered.

"Was all of this because you wanted that man's wife?" she elaborated.

Rick looked at Michonne incredulously.

"What? No. That's not what it was about. It's about the type of people they let live here; what they turn a blind eye to…"

"That's none of our business, Rick!"

"I had to do something…"

"No, you didn't. Not like that. God, I can't believe you," Michonne said as she stood. "We're new here. We're tryin' to fit in."

"He was beatin' on her and they let it happen because he's a doctor…"

"I don't give a fuck about them right now! I'm worried about if they're gonna throw your ass out. And then what? We'd have to leave. I'm worried about your kids having to be on the outside again. All because you can't get your shit together, Rick," Michonne said, raising her voice a little.

She rubbed her eye as Rick avoided her gaze.

"Just tell me, were you trying to get with her?" Michonne asked as Rick looked down to the floor.

"I don't know," he said while staring at the wall before glancing at her. "Why are you lookin' at me like that? It ain't a yes."

"It's not a no either," said Michonne, the hurt etched into her features.

"Why are you so concerned?" Rick asked.

"Are you serious? Did I knock all of the sense out of your head? After everything we've been through together, I thought we'd get here and, I dunno, maybe we'd get a second chance at everything. I'm such an idiot…"

"What're you talkin' about?" asked Rick as he held her gaze.

"Us. I'm talking about us. I thought that we…I thought that I meant something to you; thought you cared about me. Shit, my judgement was so off…"

"I do care about you…" Rick offered slightly confused; so many thoughts and emotions were washing over him.

"I thought maybe, just maybe I wasn't readin' you wrong. Maybe you felt the same about me as I felt about you. And then I find that you were out here chasin' ass and putting us all in danger…"

"What?"

"I know there's nothin' between us and you can do whatever you want to do because we're just friends, but I was by your side through a lot of the shit. Don't think for a second that that woman is gonna leave her family behind and follow you out into the shit storm. Remember that. You don't owe me anything, I know that. Just don't ruin this for us because you want to get your dick wet."

Michonne said before there was a knock at the door and Glenn, Carol and Abraham entered.

…..

"…I'm still with you," Michonne offered as Rick stared deeply into her eyes.

He realized in that moment that she was going to be with him regardless of the outcome of the meeting later that day. Rick saw the affection in her eyes and he knew right there and then that he felt the same. He was thinking clearly as the confusion caused by their new sanctuary and the pain of what could have been crumbled and fell away; in that moment he remembered how much Michonne truly meant to him.

She finished talking and told him not to take too long as she went to exit his room.

"Michonne," he called as she turned in the doorway. "I'm sorry I disappointed you."

She thought about all of the moments she and Rick had had leading up to settling in Alexandria; the gentle touches, the unspoken understanding; the way it felt as if he was staring into her soul. The way that he made her heart feel full and afraid at the exact same time. How she was so scared of letting him and his children into her heart at first; how she feared to love again. Michonne sighed; too tired to hold back what she truly felt any longer.

"You didn't disappoint me. You hurt me; you made me feel stupid, Rick. I thought we had something. I guess I was wrong," with that she turned and left.

xXxXx

Present day…

Her laughter wafted up stairs and drew Rick from his much needed slumber; he indistinctly recalled Michonne entering the room earlier to take Judith. She reassured him that all was well and he should continue sleeping, which he did; no one had come to bring him bad news and he knew his people were capable fighters. His sleep was plagued with visions of the night before; the flames danced wildly in his mind's eye and he could almost swear the imagined heat of his dreamy haze had caused his skin to sweat.

Michonne was always so considerate of him he thought a moment; for it was true that she had stopped taking breaks so that he might be able to. This train of thought caused him some guilt as he shook the lethargy away and shifted in order to get ready. After splashing his face with cold water and finding clothing to put on, Rick slowly made his way down to the living room. Michonne's laughter was louder now; leading him forward with a smile on his face much like a siren's song did in the tales of old.

Rick's smile soon disappeared when he took in the scene before him; Michonne and Morgan seated on the sofa engaged in friendly conversation. He realized it was irrational on his part to feel so averse to the sight of the two of them together, but nonetheless, it was how he felt. He sighed deeply and thought he might at least try to be amicable to his friends today, after all, he did not want to get into yet another disagreement with Michonne.

If she felt his presence in the room, she did not show it and Rick felt annoyed. He tread heavily on his way to the kitchen until Morgan noticed him, stood and followed him; Michonne was not far behind.

"Where're the kids?" Rick asked as he went about finding something to quell his hunger.

He tried not to look at her as he undid the lid of a bottle of water and drank from it.

"Out on the porch," Michonne replied. "We found a small breach in the wall, but it's been fortified."

Rick placed the water on the table and took up a seat; he opened the can of spaghetti and scooped some out, not bothering to warm it. Michonne sat down and Morgan leaned against the counter.

"Good. Did we have any trouble today?" Rick asked as he glanced between the two of them and then stared back at his meal.

Michonne shook her head.

"No. Was quiet. We're gonna take shifts at perimeter check inside and outside of the wall as added sentry duty as well as double up on watch just in case."

Rick grunted in response.

"Should be paired for the checks as well," Rick offered.

"That's what we thought too," said Morgan, finally joining the conversation. "Michonne and I were just waiting for you to finish resting before we started the first checks."

Rick's eyebrows rose at the information; he knew both of his friends were more than capable of looking after themselves, but he still felt annoyed that they were going together. In all honesty, if they were attacked again by the living, he knew Michonne would do what needed to be done; what troubled him was the thought of Morgan not being willing to take someone's life. Even if that meant saving one of their own. He knew he could not forgive Morgan if something happened to Michonne on his watch. Rick sighed.

"You carrying?" he asked of them. Michonne tapped the pistol at her side; Morgan shrugged.

"Grab something from the armory," Rick directed Morgan.

"Not necessary," his friend answered.

Michonne noticed the vein in Rick's temple pulsating; Morgan was testing his last nerve.

"We'll stop by there," Michonne offered as she stood. "See you later."

Rick watched them walk out the front door; he cringed when he saw Morgan press his hand to the small of Michonne's back as he let her step out before him. The pulsating in his temple turned to a full blown headache soon thereafter.