Everything stopped.

In the past twenty-four hours, so much had happened to Andrea and Michonne that it was difficult to comprehend. Shocking events are always hard to process and accept. Surprisingly, horror is not. They'd gotten used to horror. They survived horror and horrific conditions for so long that they'd oddly grown fond of the increased heartrate, the erratic breathing, and the quick actions that horror demanded. But surprises? Well, that was something else entirely.

Merle was gone, replaced by this seemingly ordinary man named John. The campfire began to die down when a question came to Andrea's mind.

"John?" Andrea asked. Michonne carefully watched the exchange.

"Yeah?"

"What's your last name?"

John stared at her in wonder. "After everything that happened recently and after everything you just heard, that's the question on your mind?"

Andrea said nothing.

John sighed. "Swiper."

"Swiper?"

"Yeah. Swiper. S-w-i-p-e-r. Swiper."

Andrea nodded, looking back at the fire. Nobody said anything for a little while, trying to adjust to their new surroundings and new predicaments. Michonne looked up at the evening sky. For the first time in recent memory, clouds hung low, blocking a lot of moonlight. They'd gotten used to nighttime light, thanks to the moon. At least the moon hadn't been affected by the plague that threatened humanity's existence.

Andrea and Michonne noticed that John never asked for her last name. Or, for that matter, Michonne's first name.

Michonne returned her gaze to the beautiful blonde woman who appeared to be sitting a little closer to this mysterious man.

"Andrea." Michonne whispered.

"Yeah?" Andrea responded. She turned away from John and looked at her expectantly.

But Michonne remained silent. Puzzled at first, Andrea simply looked at her. And then, thanks to months and months of friendship and solidarity, she understood what Michonne was trying to say.

Be careful.

Andrea nodded and returned her attention to John.

"So," Andrea non-chalantly began, kicking at a twig near the campfire. "what are you going to do now?"

John leaned back a little, his elbows resting on his knees, warily thinking over his answer. A long moment passed before he heavily sighed. "Don't know."

Andrea looked down in thought for one full second before she looked back at him. "Wanna stay here with us?"

"What?" John and Michonne asked. They looked at each other – one with caution and the other with surprise…and caution as well.

"I…I…" John stammered. His eyes were nearly as wide as Michonne's. But Michonne stared at Andrea, a mixture of confusion and anger on her face.

"We don't know this guy." Michonne said through gritted teeth.

"He's in a bad situation, Michonne." Andrea returned, scratching her head. "Just like us."

Michonne returned her gaze to John. But he didn't say anything, choosing to watch their exchange instead.

"How can we trust him?" Michonne asked Andrea, but her eyes glued on John.

Andrea turned to face him too. "I don't know. But we know we're all being…" And then, her features saddened, "hunted."

Michonne blinked a couple of times before returning to hers. "We don't need the extra-"

"We might." Andrea interrupted, looking into the now-dying campfire. "He knows this…Governor. And he knows the terrain here. Better than we do."

"I'm from Georgia!" Michonne said, just louder than a whisper.

"I know, I knooooow!" Andrea returned. John continued to sit in silence, eyes shifting from woman to woman.

Michonne sighed. "I don't like this." And with that, she stood, affixed Her Girl straighter on her back, and walked away.

Andrea, too, sighed and said nothing further. The campfire continued to die down. John watched Michonne retreat back to the shed. He thought he heard Michonne's Girl swiping through the air but he wasn't sure. Then, he deliberately looked at Andrea.

"I don't want," John carefully said, "to cause any trouble." He shifted his weight and leaned towards her a little, something Andrea noticed with a sideways glance. "But I'm not gonna lie to ya'. I don't wanna be out here alone. Nobody does."

Andrea turned to face him. Faces maybe a foot apart, she noticed his deep brown eyes in a face that might've been handsome with a shower and a shave. John's eyes appeared drowsy as he stared into her blue eyes. Seconds passed as they simply watched each other, noting little things, perhaps even…feeling their gazes.

Someone cleared his or her throat. Andrea and John flipped their heads up, only to see the suspicious eyes of Michonne, just a few feet away from them. Neither of them noticed or heard Michonne's stealthy approach. Or, perhaps, it wasn't stealthy.

"Andrea?" Michonne asked, with just a hint of authority.

"Yeah?" Andrea replied.

Michonne reached in the backpack behind her and pulled out two cans.

"Pears? Or beans?"

Andrea partially smiled at the question, reminiscing how fun-loving and silly the question was in the past. But Michonne wasn't smiling and Andrea sighed a little. This definitely wasn't the same feeling from the last time this question was asked. And they both knew that.

Nearby, a moan was heard. Everybody knew what that meant.

"I got it." Michonne dully said. But before she left, she dropped the cans at her feet, letting them roll just a little towards the campfire. Towards Andrea and John. Michonne unsheathed Her Girl and headed towards the sound. As soon as she was out of sight, Andrea returned her attention to John. They looked at each other, little, polite smiles on their faces.

.

Michonne was returning from her simple task. She was only gone a couple of minutes. But when she was maybe five yards away from them, she heard an unexpected sound from ahead.

Laughter.

Michonne frowned and resheathed Her Girl. She looked down at the ground as she placed pounding steps on the earth, heading towards them. And as soon as she was convinced she'd be noticed, Michonne quickly realized she wasn't. Instead, John and Andrea were smiling and laughing. Her eyes narrowed on him. Or rather, them. Michonne briefly considered clearing her throat to get their attention but quickly discounted that idea. She wanted to watch him. She wanted to study him. She wanted him…gone.

Maybe.

That thought stopped her in her tracks. Michonne wasn't sure where that thought came from but this John guy felt like a…a headache that wouldn't go away. Or a coupon that recently expired. Or a…

Threat.

She couldn't make sense of it. Instead, she briefly shook her head and walked towards the campfire. Michonne might as well have not even been there. She wasn't noticed until she was almost on top of them. She got to John first. Andrea looked up.

"Hey there!" Andrea cheerily said.

"Hi." Michonne quietly responded.

John twisted around and looked up. "I was just telling Andrea here that I haven't been properly introduced." He extended his hand towards the fierce warrior. "I'm John. John Swiper."

Michonne intentionally stared at his hand and then let her eyes slowly go up to his eyes. All she saw was a kind expression. She slowly extended her hand and shook his.

"Michonne."

"Mich…?" He asked.

"Michonne."

"Michonne." John repeated. "Michonne. I like that name! It's unique."

"Yeah." She said, walking around the campfire and plopping down next to Andrea, intentionally ignoring the blonde's annoyed glare.

Ever since Michonne returned, John and Andrea seemed…distracted or something. Perhaps even nervous. They exchanged sideways glances at each other a few times until they realized how silly that was. Relieved smiles adorned their faces as Michonne simply watched.

"You know, John," Andrea began, tossing a stick into the campfire. "When I was younger, I used to-"

"Andrea?" Michonne interrupted.

Andrea turned towards her. "Yes?"

"I…" Michonne looked towards the fire, struggling with her words. Andrea watched, a little perplexed. Finally, Michonne finished her question. "I have more beans. And pears."

Andrea narrowed her eyes in confusion. Michonne just looked down. Silence followed after a while. Nervous hands performed a variety of tasks – John looked around, checking for walkers. Andrea unnecessarily pulled her ponytail a little tighter. Michonne wiped Her Girl from time to time.

They'd all gotten used to horror.

They'd all gotten used to suspense.

They'd even acclimated to starvation.

But awkwardness? Well, that was something entirely new altogether. And it was all caused by John Swiper.

.

Morning. Dying embers from the campfire spit into the air. Clouds hung low, darkening the landscape and a chilling breeze blew over them. Odors of Merle's rotting body stabbed their nostrils. The three survivors simultaneously blinked their eyes, sat up, and stared at nothing. Michonne and Andrea scanned the area for any immediate walker threat. Concluding there were none, they began the laborious, repetitive task of waking up and preparing for the day. But there was a new equation to their little group – John.

"Michonne?" John suddenly asked.

"Yeah?"

"Wanna hunt for breakfast with me?"

She didn't even try to hide her surprise. From her slightly reclined position, Andrea tried her best to hide a smile.

"OK." Michonne hesitantly replied.

"I'll get everything packed up." Andrea supplied. And then, she came to a stop. "Oh! I forgot something."

"What?" John asked before Michonne could.

"I need shoes."

"Oh! That's right!" John exclaimed with a little laugh. Then, he cleared his throat. "Maybe when Michonne and I hunt, we could find a walker with shoes that might fit you."

"I'll check the shed." Michonne said. "They might be in there."

"OK." Andrea said to both.

"I need to take a leak. Then we'll go." John said to Michonne.

"Me too." Michonne replied.

"TMI, guys!" Andrea said, a little smile on her face. That got a laugh out of John and perhaps a little grin from Michonne. Maybe.

The three separated to fulfill their early morning biological needs. Within minutes, they'd returned. Andrea began scooping up their belongings, struggling to comprehend how they'd carry everything since The Boys were disposed of. Michonne, as promised, went to the shed. John just kind of stood there, watching everything unfold around him. Soon, the girls returned, sans Andrea's shoes.

"Well…" Andrea began, scratching her head. "If you can find a walker with shoes that might fit, I'd appreciate it." She looked up at John, noting how the clouded sunshine made his brown hair that much brighter, which seemed extraordinary. Michonne watched, mildly annoyed. But John just smiled back.

"You bet." John said.

"Let's go." Michonne announced. And without warning, she walked east. John followed with a little wave the Andrea. Andrea waved back. And Michonne purposely didn't notice a thing.

.

"Thank you."

Michonne came to a stop. They'd progressed into the woods in complete silence for what must've been at least ten minutes. John quickly realized the day before that Michonne would be a tough nut to crack.

And he was absolutely right.

"For what?" Michonne asked.

John inspected a low trawl of dirt for signs of any marsupials or even rodents. "For letting me stay."

Spotting something in the distance, Michonne unsheathed Her Girl and said, "I haven't promised anything yet."

John quieted his voice. "I know. But you didn't have to at all."

The pair walked stealthily towards a suspicious noise. Their grumbling bellies told the story of what was needed in the short term, but any walker threats had to be dealt with as well.

"I don't trust you." Michonne quietly added, sneaking around an oak tree. She waved to him to position himself along a neighboring tree.

"I know." John said. "I wouldn't either in your position."

John nodded towards the northeast and Michonne looked. Having come to some sort of conclusion, she looked back at him and nodded in reply. The two hunters walked a few more steps until their prey was spotted – a female walker.

The common soft moans of the walker invaded the serene silence of the morning. Michonne motioned to John and an unspoken agreement was made. John nodded.

He headed towards the open area as Michonne silently flanked behind the walker. John waved his arm.

"Hey idiot!" John loudly said.

The walker saw him, eyes widening and mouth open. That's when the katana slashed through its mouth, effectively ending its harrowing life. It collapsed in a dead heap, pun intended.

Sandals. Of course the walker would be wearing sandals.

"I think," John said, stooping down to snatch the shoes, "that these will work."

Michonne sighed and resheathed Her Girl. "We'll see."

"Let's head back-" John began, but came to a complete halt.

Michonne did too. Their eyes simultaneously widened and the hunters dropped to the ground. A sound could be heard in the distance. It was a sound neither had heard in a long time.

A car. And it was approaching their area. Fast!

They motioned to each other and quickly crept through the woods, pushing branches and twigs out of their way. The car's engine revved even louder as John and Michonne approached Highway 24. And right when they ducked down out of the car's sight, that's when John's eyes couldn't have gotten wider.

The car breezed past them at high speed. The driver and its three occupants didn't see them and the sounds of the vehicle quickly died away.

"Oh…my….God!" John exclaimed, eyes exhibiting sheer terror.

"What?" Michonne asked, concerned for the first time for his well-being.

He fully turned his body towards her, hand automatically going to his gun.

"That was the Governor!"

.