A/N: The chapter title is a song by Terence Trent D'arby.

Let's go forward with our love...

On this mild breezy afternoon things were quiet and mellow in the town of Alexandria. Things seemed to be peaceful for the time being. Once Daryl got out of the shower he saw Michonne getting dressed in her work clothes.

"What are you doing?" He asked, putting on his vest.

"Getting ready for work"

"Deanna gave you a couple of days off" She continued to button up her shirt.

"She never gives days off, what would make her change her mind"

"Cause I asked her too" She stopped and looked at him, caught off guard by his generosity.

"Why did you do that?"

"You need a break, haven't relaxed since we got here"

"Umm, thank you" She took off her work shirt and put on a tank top.

"Don't need too" He gently rubbed her arm "The weather isn't that bad, wanna take a walk?" She agreed. During their walk the back of his hand lightly brushed against hers. He tried to take her hand but she kept pulling away.

"S'okay to hold my hand" His fingertips lightly graze hers. She eventually intertwined her fingers with his.

"I wanna see more of that"

"More of what?" She asked.

"You're smile" She couldn't help but give him a chuckle. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

Glenn meet up with Maggie on her break. After they ate lunch they spotted Daryl and Michonne walking together.

"He finally saved her" Maggie said.

"Yeah. I hope it stays like that"

"Me too. She's been through enough"

Daryl wanted to spend more time with his new girlfriend but realized he had to work. Once they arrived at the gates he looked into her glowing brown eyes. He sensed she was still stressed about yesterday.

"Try to get some rest"

"I can't sleep" He ran his hand through her dreads.

"Try" She nodded. He kissed her on the lips and slowly pulled back. She responded by returning the kiss. After locking the gate she sat down on one of the tables to take in the scenery. For once the feeling of sadness was temporarily gone.

XXX

Carl awoken to Judith's frantic crying. Things at the Grimes house haven't been the same since Michonne moved out. He picked her up and tried to rock her back to sleep with no success. He walked out to the living room and seen his dad sitting on the couch.

"Is she okay?" Rick asked.

"I don't know. I've fed her, tried to rock her to sleep but nothing worked. I'll take her out for a walk"

Before he walked out the door he looked back at his father, noticing the sad expression on his face. Approaching the end of the street he spotted Michonne sitting on one of the tables. He hasn't spoken to her in a couple of days so this was the perfect opportunity.

"Hey" He approached her with a warm smile. He spotted the cuts and bruises on her face.

"Did my dad hit you?"

"No, Daryl hit me by accident when I tried to break up a fight" He nodded. The baby started fidgeting around in his arms.

"For some reason Judith won't stop crying"

"Here, give her to me" When she held the baby close to her she immediately became quiet and wrapped her arms around Michonne's neck, pressing her cheek next to hers.

"She misses you, we both do" She kissed the baby on the cheek.

"I miss you guys too" She patted Carl on the top of his hat.

"He's not home?"

"No, at work"

Michonne and Carl took a walk back to the house. She laid Judith in her crib and tucked her in. Going into Rick's bedroom she retrieved her sword above the dresser. Looking back at the bed brought up old memories of when she woke up to him and the kids every morning, but that changed knowing Jessie sleeps next to him every night. The scent of sex still lingered strongly in the room. Carl stood in the doorway and noticed how sad she looked.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothin" She walked up to him.

"If you ever wanted to talk, I'm at Daryl's house" Carl looked at her.

"See you around" She said. Before she walked away he spoke up.

"Wait" He signed "I'm sorry for what my dad did to you. If i had seen it coming i would of stopped it. Just wish things could go back to the way they were, when you and my dad were happy with each other" She turned around and kneeled down to him.

"It's not your fault. I know things between Rick and I are bad but my relationship with you and Judith doesn't have to suffer because of it" Carl felt happy she still wanted to be around. He gave her a hug.

"We'll always be a family" He said.

"I appreciate that" She smiled. His words were heart warming but she knew deep down their family would never be the same again.

"Just remember this, Jessie could never replace you" They both laughed together.

"I love you"

"I love you too Carl" The baby made a cute giggling noise.

"That includes you too Judith" She tilted his hat forward then left the house. Walking back to her resting spot she felt good knowing her relationship with Carl was still there, but it broke her heart that Carl didn't understand how bad his father treated her.

XXX

Rick went out on his lunch break and saw Michonne sitting outside. He hasn't been able to get her off his mind since she moved out. He was supposed to be meeting up with Jessie for lunch but wanted to see her first. She looked up and saw him coming her way and took a deep breath, preparing for the worst.

"You alright?"

"Yeah"

"Did Pete do anything to you?" She cocked her eyebrow, wondering why he sounded so protective all of the sudden.

"No" She signed "i'm sorry that I hit you"

"Don't worry about it. Why didn't you come into work?"

"I asked for time off" She lied to him to keep things from escalating further "Is that all you wanted?"

"No, we need to finish talking"

"What's left to say" She thought about the talk earlier with Carl. She couldn't risk losing her relationship so she agreed to talk. They took a walk to a secluded house a few blocks away from the workplace. Rick sat down on the couch.

"Wanna sit down?" He asked. She leaned against the wall.

"I'm fine right here" Rick takes a second to think before opening his mouth.

"I never ment to hurt you"

"Well, yeah you did. Since the beginning I was just an outlet for you"

"That's not true. You think I wanted to hurt you out of all people. You're acting like I'm in love with this women but I'm not"

"I don't believe you"

"We'll always have a special connection with each other. You're the only woman I'll ever care for Michonne, you have my heart"

"You say that now but you never knew how to love me the way I loved you" She put her hands over her face.

"I want you back. You know how much I love you"

"I did love you for a long time, but I can't feel the same way about you anymore"

"Michonne" He came close and tried to hold her.

"Stop" She pulled away from him because unsettling memories started to fill her head again "I just want to be civil with each other, for Carl and Judith"

"I want that too. You can see them whenever you want"

"Good" Before she walked away he pulled her close to him, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"When you fall, I'll be there to pick you up" He said close to her ear. He caressed the bruise on the side of her cheek with his thumb. She knew he would eventually find out about her dating Daryl but now wasn't the right time to tell him.

XXX

A thunderstorm keep everyone in town inside for the night. Michonne sat on the side of the bed, looking out at the rainfall. A shirtless Daryl came up to the bedroom with a few candles.

"Lay down" He sat on the bed and lit each candle, placing them on the dresser.

"In a minute" He could tell by the way she distanced herself her mind was racing about something. He sat in the middle of the bed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back towards him. He kissed her on the shoulder a few times to relax her.

"Let me have control" He untied her dreads.

"I know your scared, not knowing how it feels to be loved" He kissed her shoulder. He held her tighter. The scent of raspberries suddenly filled the air. Inhaling the scent deeper and feeling Daryl's hand travel down to her thighs sent her body to another state. Something told her to take this to the next level but another part wasn't sure yet. He held her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of it.

"What we have isn't lust" He continued caressing her neck with his cool breath while running his hands up her inner thighs.

"I need you to trust me" She felt him sucking on her neck as he put both hands into the sides of her night gown, lightly squeezing her boobs. The feeling of love and desired took over her mind. She held his hand up to her mouth and kissed his fingers. He leaned her head back to kiss her.

He laid her down on the pillow and continued to kiss her neck. She felt tingles all throughout her body as his hair ran down her skin. When he ran both his hands up her nightgown into the sides of her underwear she felt her private area start to thump. With this new feeling getting more intense she couldn't hold back any longer.

"...Make love to me" His heart dropped hearing her say that. They've been having sex but he felt she wasn't connecting with him on a romantic level. He came up and looked into her eyes.

"Are you sure?" He moved her dreads to the side. To him the look in her eyes and that subtle look on her face said she was ready to let him in.

"Yes" He kissed her on the top of her forehead then pulled the sheets over them. They embraced each other in a deep kiss as the thunder continued to rumble outside.

Come and get this

Waited all my life for your touch and your soft kiss

And life will never be the same

While you moan and groan, I hear your voice call my name

Holdin' your body like a plastic moldin'

Your soul I'll be controlling

As the candles burn, we toss and we turn

From night to day, all our pleasures we learn

Come and play with me

Tonight's our night baby

Lyrics used: Boyz II Men - 50 Candles