Authors note: Hey guys. When I started this, I only had the first chapters concept down, and I hadn't really considered where I'd take the fic, beyond that point. I wasn't sure whether or not I'd even add another chapter. Today, I started a virtual sticky note for future chapter scenes, and the list of ideas goes on and on and on. I'm planning on writing many more chapters. I just completely fell in love with this as I have been writing it. I can't help it.

Anyway, in this chapter, I wrote a bunch of other characters for the first time. I wrote them based on my interpretations of the characters, but I don't pay as much attention to some of them as I do for Rick and Michonne, so i'm not sure how on point they are. But I'm happy with them, so they should be fine.

The plot is well on its way to thickening. But I'm making sure to add plenty of cute Richonne for you. (Honestly though, those scenes are my favorite to write anyway. Richonne is forever gonna be the main focus of this fic.)

Rick partially woke up the next morning, immediately disappointed that he couldn't feel Michonne's warm body overlapping his, as he had begun to get used to. He figured they had just adjusted away from each other in their sleep. His eyes were still shut as he stretched his limbs in attempt to find his lady's. When his foot reached the far end of his king-size bed without coming in contact with her, his heart began to race, and his eyes shot open. He forced himself into a sitting position as he urgently looked his room over. She was nowhere to be seen. He relaxed slightly, only when he noticed her uniform was no longer spread out over the floor that surrounded their bed. He sighed, but was still anxious.

Not wasting any time, the man threw on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, and headed downstairs at once, looking to find Michonne. He was startled at the sight of his entire group seated in his living room. Everyone that had been with him when he arrived to Alexandria, looked up at the man.

"What's goin' on?" As he continued down the stairs, he heard some childish giggling, and noticed Rosita and Tara cover their mouth with their hands in shock. "What?" He finally let out.

Silence. After a moment, the very groggy Rick remembered they all gathered there to discuss Alexandria, to make sure everyone agreed it was safe. He still wasn't sure what caused the staring and giggling. Little did he know, his neck was decorated with large, purple and blue ovals. They were a gift from Michonne, and everyone could see them.

"I hope the other guy looks worse." Carl said, in a confident joking manner. Tara gasped and a chuckle was heard from a few people in the group. "What?" His head leaning back, confused. "Cleary he got in a fight…don't tell me you guys don't see those bruises."

At this, Abraham, who was next to the boy, sat up straight. He let out a chuckle and slapped Carl hard in the back. Carl groaned. "That boy, is no bruise. That's a hickey. A straight-up love bite. Happens when-"

"Abraham!" Rosita interrupted.

"What? Kids old enough. He didn't have middle school gym class to teach him about the good ol'-"

"Abraham!" She repeated.

"Fine." He groaned.

"I think its cute." Beth smiled, Judith playing with the girl's clothes as she sat on her lap. "You only get so much love in this world. Whoever it was…I think its sweet."

"So who is the 'other guy' then? I bet it was that fine piece little blonde. Jamie? Jessie?"

"Messie." Michonne mumbled, too quietly for anyone to hear. Her eyes were focused on her man on the stairs, who just locked in with her gaze.

At this point, Carl realized they were talking about something sexual. He didn't know much, but he got the general idea. " ? Ewwww…" He let out.

"Yeah. Ew is right." Rick nodded. He kept a playful tone at this to keep Carl in a good mood, but his face was serious, using just looks to communicate with Michonne from across the room.

"So if it ain't her doin that, then who?" The ginger said, all too interested in the conversation, to his girlfriend's disgust-but also at her amusement. Afterall, Rosita herself was curious too. Daryl, Maggie, and Glenn wouldn't make eye contact with any of the people talking-or those being talked about. They were very uncomfortable with Rick's personal life being joked about in such a manor.

"Well, all things considered…" Eugene spoke up. "I'd reckon its probably that little lady over there." His head turned to Michonne, and everyone else's followed. He continued to speak on why it had to be her because of their living situation, and made a few uncomfortable comments about sexual tension between the two. All eyes were glued to the woman as Eugene spoke about her. Michonne and Rick heard nothing past the first sentence, as they were trying to communicate with only their glances.

She shot him a look, translating to 'What do we say? Are we going to be honest?' He contemplated for a moment, before releasing the smallest of grins. His mouth curved just slightly on one side, so subtle, only Michonne could ever notice it. She nodded her head subtly in return, and he repeated the gesture. She knew what he had decided, and as always, she would be with him.

Rick finished down the stairs, pep in his step. He was eager for his loved ones to finally know the truth, beyond Carl who had already mostly figured it out the day before.

"Michonne and I…" He started, not sure how he was going to finish the sentence. "We…" He sighed, approaching her further. Her big brown eyes stared up at him, full of love, and content with the situation. "Hm." Finding words for what she was to him, for what they were, and what they were going to be was hard. How did he sum up the emotions that he had built up with her, for her over several years, in just one sentence?

"Michonne is like my new stepmom. Right?" Carl interrupted. His tone was confused, yet content and positive.

Rick smiled at the boy. "Yeah...somethin' like that." His smile returned to Michonne, whose eyes were still glued to him.

"…Finally." Maggie blurted, her accent complimenting the excitement in her tone.

The new couple turned their attention towards her, confusion on their face.

"I know y'all are probably new to this whole thing, since this is the first we've seen of well…/that./" She motioned to his hickeys. "But I've been anticipatin' it for a while now…and I cant have been the only one." She finished, smiling sweetly, yet feeling a little bit odd to have been the first person to speak up.

"You weren't." Carol responded, sweetness and humor in her tone.

Beth proceeded to hand Judith to Maggie, and gracefully stand up and prance over to Rick and Michonne. She kneeled down and threw her arms around the sitting Michonne, her arms resting on the woman's shoulders. pulling her into a tight hug. Michonne gently, but lovingly returned the favor. The blonde finally released and stood up, only to do wrap her arms around Ricks stomach. He smiled down at her, comforted with the approving response.

"Congrats bro." Glenn said, approvingly. Daryl just nodded to Rick, letting him know he was okay with his new relationship

"Well shit." Abraham let out. "Despite how much we all saw this coming, I really didn't see this comin'."

"Agreed" Tara let out, smiling to Michonne.

"Cool." Carl nodded after a moment.

"Yes." Michonne finally spoke. "Very cool."

After hearing her voice for the first time this morning, and the emotional situation that had just occurred, Rick, who wasn't very big on PDA, couldn't resist placing a celebratory kiss to her lips. This inspired various 'awhs' and an annoying whistle from Abraham.

"I'd just like to put all your minds at rest. I will tell you that despite a few slight concerns, I do support you two in your new relationship." He nodded toward Rick, who had nothing to do but nod back with a smirk.

After moving on from the subject, the group discussed their feelings towards Alexandria. They came to the conclusion that it had a lot of potential, but that the people- and the walls were weak. This place could work, only if they put in effort to build its strength. After everything- this was going to be well worth it.

"Hey." Glenn greeted, approaching Rick after everyone else had left the home. Rick simply nodded back in return. "That was a mess….." He blurted out.

"It was." He agreed. He was eager for his friend to get to the point. He knew Glenn well enough to know when his mind was on something else.

"So, what is it really? You and Michonne…Is it sex, or is it real?"

Rick chuckled a little bit. "Its real."

Glenn smiled. "You seem happy. You both do. I'd say its about time you found someone…after…"

"Lori." Rick nodded, as he looked down. It had been a while since he thought of her.

"Yeah…" he let out awkwardly.

"Go ahead." He could tell Glenn was biting his tongue, holding back form saying something he wanted to say.

"I just. I dunno', man. If something happened to Maggie… I just…I don't think I could ever move on. I don't think I could ever love someone else."

Rick nodded his head and thought for a moment. "I understand that...But Lori, Lori wasn't my Maggie. Michonne…Michonne is."

At that, Glenn's eyes widened. It made much more sense to him than he thought it was going to. "Don't get me wrong… I loved her. I did. And she gave me Carl. We just stopped…connectin'." He paused, realizing he finally found the words to describe it not only to his friend, but to himself as well. "I get the feelin' we were together longer than we would have been before."

"But Michonne, you love her right?"

Michonne stepped out of the shower, biting her lip as she stepped in front of the mirror. She studied the reflection of her body. Her eyes traced every curve and the skin that wrapped around it. She smiled to herself slightly- and before she knew it, a tooth-revealing grin was fully spread across her face. Her body wasn't much different than it had been at the prison. Cleaner, but pretty much the same. And yet, it felt so different. It was the body that had been touched by Rick. It was the body that got to hold Carl and Judith. It was the body that got to laugh. Her body looked the same, but it was so much happier now.

She cupped her mouth with her hands, hiding her dorky smile. The woman then proceeded to lean over to brush her teeth. Just as she spat and looked up, an unsuspecting Rick Grimes opened the bathroom door. He took a double take as he looked over her freshly cleaned body, and its unforgettable glow. "Hey." was all he could get out.

"Hey." She said back smoothly, reaching for her robe, then tightening it around her form. He tilted his head to the side as he approached her. She couldn't help but let out a quiet shy giggled as he neared her.

In a swift motion, his arms were around her waist, and his lips were only centimeters from hers. She lifted her arms to wrap her fingers in the curls that were fortunate enough to live on the back of his head. The feeling left the man's bottom lip shaking. "'Chonne-" And then her lips were brought to his. Her first priority was wrapping her lips around his lower one, in attempt to settle its shaking. He smoothly brought her body closer to him, tightening his arms around her back, and sliding his tongue into her mouth, colliding it with hers. Each of his actions bringing a new level of intensity to their kiss.

After a moment, Michonne broke the kiss, allowing herself to look at her lover up close. He repeated the action, looking into her eyes, and all over her face all at once. He smiled, she followed. He released one arm to use his fingers to move a dread out of her face, so that he could get a better view. He only lasted another moment, before sliding his hands around the dreads that framed the side of her face, and using it to pull her into another kiss, this time, slower, but just as passionate. Once the embrace of their lips naturally ended, he wasted no time in dropping his lips down to her jaw, for a few quick kisses there. Then he began to slightly kneel as he lowered himself to bring more soft kisses to her neck, and then the collarbone.

She giggled once more, as his lips wet her collarbone. This only encouraged him to give more passion. He slowly moved down to the top of her chest that was revealed by her robe. Shortly after, he felt goose bumps start to form on her still-damp skin. "Cold?" His lips brushed her skin as he spoke.

"Just a little." She whispered back, barley being able to catch her breath at all in the moment.

"Will you let me warm you up?" he asked narrowing his eyes, but looking up at her long enough to see her frantically nod. Without hesitation, he took her legs into one of his arms, and her head into his opposite hand, holding her bridal style.

The whole thing took Michonne by surprise, but she didn't hide how much she loved it. It made her feel special. She realized he adored her body just as much as she did when she had looked in the mirror only moments before. He plopped her down on the bed, and immediately unfastened the rope that held her robe shut. He brought a swift kiss to her lips, before bringing the attention to her chest. He led a straight trail from between her collarbones all the way down to her belly button. Before he continued down the bath her body had designed for him, he paused.

"What?" She asked. Instead of responding, he just adjusted his body so that he could remove his socks and shoes. He got off the bed, one sock still in his hand as he headed for the exit. "What are you doing?"

He lifted his sock up for her to see. "For the doorknob."