Rick was officially the bad guy. Not only had he alienated himself from the whole of Alexandria, but he had driven a knife through the back of the woman he loved.

"Jackass," Rick mumbled to himself as he strapped his watch around his wrist. There were times when he wondered why the others had appointed someone like him – a person who sometimes lacked judgment and was not especially honorable – to lead the group. This was one of those times.

Deanna had called a meeting for tonight, inviting all of Alexandria to join. Rick and the rest of his group suspected that Deanna intended to punish Rick for attacking Pete. Some feared that punishment might be exile. Rick doubted Deanna would go that far, but they were all prepared for the worst, a skill they had learned time and time again surviving on the road.

Rick zipped up the trousers of his constable uniform, which hung loose around his waist. Missing meals and working through the night was beginning to take a toll on his body. He would have to make more of an effort to take care of himself – three meals a day, eight hours of sleep, quality time with his kids. And to cook something more nutritional than tuna casserole for dinner, especially if he wanted Carl to ever speak to him again.

The boy had mostly holed up in his room since Rick had dropped the bomb of his illicit affair with Michonne and their subsequent child, Andre; Carl's long lost brother and Rick's long lost son.

Rick simply couldn't bear to lose another one of his children. That was not an option. He would apologize tonight, even if that meant kicking in Carl's locked bedroom door.

He pulled on his windbreaker and headed down the stairs. Carl had gone ahead to the meeting, taking Judith with him. Rick walked through the house, which lacked the warmth and security of their previous life with Michonne. The hooks above the mantel hung low and empty, dutifully awaiting the arrival of Michonne's katana.

He closed the front door lightly behind him. He missed his family, the family he and Michonne had built together. He feared after how he'd treated her, jamming a wedge between her and Carl, that she would never come back. In all honesty, that was what he deserved. But he couldn't force that empty life on Carl and Judith as well.

His grief and self-pity at learning of Andre and his death had clouded his judgment for long enough. The second Michonne said she would never forgive him, the blinding haze lifted. He wanted to call to her, to kneel down and beg her forgiveness, but she had already vanished, leaving behind a heaviness that settled in his gut.

He had never thought of himself as a coward. But his reaction to her confession had proven him to be just that. He had been so afraid to learn of this lie - where he thought there was only love and trust – that he had pushed her as far away as he could, hoping she would take the truth of her betrayal with her.

Pushing away Michonne, however, had only made things worse. He could not stop thinking about how they parted in Atlanta, Michonne with Andre already growing in her belly. There were nights he would pull out Andre's photo and just sob, the thought of lost opportunities with his son, overwhelming him. If he had known about Andre, he never would have let her go.

And then he questioned what he would have done if he had known. Would he have divorced Lori and left Carl behind? He might have; just like his own father had. And that admission terrified him. And blinded him with rage, which he redirected to Michonne.

Rick neared the open space functioning as a town square for the small community. It flickered with light from the bonfire blazing in the center, casting shadows every which way. People sat on either side of the fire. He spotted most of his people gathered on one side, unified in their mission to defend him. His heart skipped a beat. He had put everything at risk, their lives as well as his own, because of some stupid temper tantrum. And yet they still stood beside him.

Carl sat with a sleeping Judith in his arms. He rubbed her back lightly as he listened to Deanna speak.

"Alexandria is guided by certain rules," Deanna spoke authoritatively, "and those rules have been broken." Her eyes followed Rick as he stopped to stand behind his people.

Rick spotted Michonne, standing to the side rather than sitting with the others. Arms crossed, she looked slightly bored with the proceedings.

"Glad you could finally join us, Rick," Deanna said, her usual smile not accompanying her greeting. She returned to addressing the crowd. "We are here tonight to discuss Rick's blatant disregard of the rules that govern and hold us together as a community. Tonight, we will discuss Rick's unprovoked attack on Pete."

Grumbling seized the crowd.

"Those who would like to speak, have the floor." Deanna left the podium, her eyes still on Rick.

There was movement among the crowd and the first speaker rose from his seat. Tobin thanked the crowd for attending and went on to list the reasons he thought Rick's actions proved him to be a danger to the community, as someone who wanted violence more than peace. He suggested that Rick be removed from his duties as constable.

A few more Alexandrians spoke, all admonishing Rick for his actions, the final speaker suggesting that he be removed from the community as soon as possible.

"Is there anyone else?" Deanna asked, when no one else rose to speak.

Rick noticed Glenn turn to Michonne and whisper something to her, but she ignored him.

"Michonne," Glenn whispered, loud enough for Rick to hear this time. But Michonne only shook her head.

Maybe it's for the best, Rick thought. He really didn't deserve anything from her at this point.

Glenn stood, nodding to Rick before walking toward the front of the group. He placed both hands on either side of the podium.

Glenn took a deep breath before beginning. "When Aaron first told us about Alexandria, we thought he was lying. The world we knew was full of bloodshed and violence and hardship." He looked to Maggie, who nodded to him in encouragement. "Alexandria sounded like little more than a fantasy. But Rick was willing to give it a try and that decision changed all of our lives for the better."

Some people in the audience whispered, while others nodded in response. Rick felt a sense of pride at his words.

Glenn stood straighter. "Granted, we've all had to do things we're not proud of. It's the way of the world now." Glenn looked into the crowd. "Rick has only ever had our safety in mind, and that now includes the safety of everyone in Alexandria. His actions may have been…extreme, but he is not a threat. The real threat is lurking beyond those walls and Rick can keep us safe from that."

Glenn returned to his seat. Maggie whispered into his ear and he smiled, kissing her lightly on the neck.

Rick looked to Michonne, but her attention was focused on Carl, a look of desperation on his young face. Michonne shook her head and headed for the podium.

Michonne looked as natural in front of the crowd as a fish in water, reminding Rick of the time he first laid eyes on her. Her opening remarks had silenced the courtroom that day and he'd wondered if he wasn't the only one dazzled by her commanding nature and beauty.

"I've never been one to shy away from the hard, cold facts, so I won't sugarcoat this – Alexandria needs us to survive. Before we arrived, you lived sheltered, ignorant lives. You had a false sense of safety, lacking the resources to truly defend yourselves from any dangers that might climb over these walls."

There was only silence as Michonne held the floor. Rick noticed Deanna watching her closely, as the crowd watched Michonne.

"In a matter of weeks, our people have taught you how to face your fears rather than to turn a blind eye to them. We have only ever wanted to help you survive and at the first sign of trouble, you're ready, eager even, to turn your backs on us. On Rick."

Michonne's eyes fell on Rick, lacking warmth but full of determination and resolve.

"Rick made us strong. He made us into a family," Michonne continued. "He is the glue holding us together."

Her eyes left him then, and Rick willed them to back – to no avail.

"Rick is a protector – it's in his bones. He would do whatever it takes to protect us, as he's proven time and time again. Rick protected Jessie and her kids when no one else was willing to stand up and do the same. He didn't turn a blind eye to a hard truth and took matters into his own hands. And yet you want to punish him for what you were too afraid to do."

Heads turned to Jessie. She wrapped her arm around Sam's shoulders, dropping her chin onto the top of his head. Pete was nowhere to be found. It was true that Rick had attacked Pete more out of anger than to protect Jessie, but he was glad his actions had at least resulted in the man being separated from his family.

"I stand here tonight to make one thing crystal clear, so there is no doubt – if Rick goes, I go. If Rick goes," Michonne waved her hand in the direction of their group while looking to Deanna, "we all go. It's all or nothing. Your choice."

Michonne returned to her standing position. She focused on Carl, who smiled at her, nodding his head. She smiled in response and Rick wished she would share that same smile with him. He feared she would never smile for him again, that this was the most she would ever do for him again.

"We've heard from both sides and they've all been very convincing. But the fact remains that Rick assaulted someone severely enough to knock him unconscious and debilitate him for days. This is not something that can be taken lightly. And I think before we make any decisions, we need to hear from Rick himself." Deanna stepped aside, lifting her chin in Rick's direction.

Rick walked past Michonne, who refused to meet his eyes. He stopped in front of Deanna, facing her, their height difference not fazing Deanna in the least. "Deanna, I want to thank you for taking us in and giving us the opportunity to experience life again. And I apologize for not conducting myself in a more…acceptable manner."

Rick turned to the crowd, but his words were meant for Michonne more than anyone. "I apologize for not handling this situation with more grace and understanding, for letting my anger turn me into someone cruel and unrecognizable. You didn't deserve to be harmed by my actions and I apologize sincerely for hurting you in any way."

Michonne's eyes briefly flitted to his. He knew his apology could not begin to make up for his horrendous behavior over the past weeks, but it was a start. She had at least looked at him.

Deanna spoke up. "I appreciate your apology, Rick. I'm sure everyone does. And thank you for helping me realize when enough was enough." She nodded to him then and Rick knew it was sincere. She turned back to face the crowd. "Rick will remain as a constable in Alexandria. Though his actions were impulsive, I believe his intentions were pure. If there is anyone who objects to this decision, my door is always open. And with that, the meeting is adjourned. Have a good night, everyone."

A healthy chatter resounded as people made their ways back home. A few folks even came over to shake Rick's hand and thank him for what he'd done.

Rick looked on as Michonne and Carl hugged. His heart melted but his resolve sped into gear. One down, two to go, Rick thought, as he planned his next apology.

Rick knocked on Carl's door. "Dinner's ready," he said, balancing a plate of Carl's favorite foods.

"I'm not hungry," Carl called from the other side of the door.

"But I made fish sticks," Rick said, "and fries." He doubted Carl could resist the two foods he loved most at the moment.

Rick waited, and after what seemed like an eternity, Carl swung open his bedroom door, a glare on his face. He reached for the plate, but Rick snatched it back. "Only if you give me two minutes to talk."

Carl sighed heavily, rolling his eyes. "Fine."

Rick smiled at his victory, glad this was turning out to be a lot easier than he had expected. Rick handled Carl the plate, following him into his bedroom. A Spiderman comic book lay open and facing down. A small lamp clipped on the side of his headboard cast the only light in the room, which was decorated with random posters others had collected for Carl since he'd been in Alexandria. The one Daryl had found of some comic book character named Deadpool was Carl's favorite.

Carl plopped down at his desk. He dipped a fish stick in ketchup and hummed as he devoured the crispy morsel.

Rick sat on the edge of the bed. "I know it's been a pretty rough month and I owe you an apology. I dodged a bullet last night and am sorry that I put you and Judith at risk of losing your home."

Carl continued eating, but slowed down a bit, part of his attention on Rick.

"And I'm sorry to have dragged you between this thing with Michonne and I. You should have never learned about your brother that way."

Carl popped a fry into this mouth, chewing thoughtfully. Rick suspected he had something to say.

"What is it son? I promise to answer any questions you have, about anything. I owe you at least that much."

"Did you love Michonne…more than Mom?" Carl asked, still making his way through his fries.

"You're not holding back, are you?" Rick asked, amazed at how mature his son had become seemingly overnight. Rick sighed before continuing. "I loved your mom very much, which is why I married and had two wonderful children with her." Rick's voice lowered. "At some point, though, the two of us grew apart." Rick did not feel the need to mention Lori's affair. That information he planned to keep to himself. "And then I met Michonne and fell in love with her. A love that was different from what I felt for your mom."

Carl remained silent for some time before continuing with his line of questions. "Why didn't she tell you about Andre? Back then?"

"Well, that's complicated. She was living with someone at the time-"

"Mike," Carl said, nodding.

"Yes, Mike. She was living with Mike and I was still married to your mom. I guess," Rick said, voicing these thoughts for the first time, "she just wanted to do what she thought was best for everyone, including your mom."

"Is that why you kicked her out? Because she lied to you about Andre?" Carl faced him now, his eyes almost level with Rick's due to his growth spurt.

Rick nodded. "Not my finest day and one I wish that I could take back. But yes, that is why I've been so upset these past few weeks."

"More like crazy," Carl muttered.

Rick chuckled, though he was sorry his son had to witness him being so unhinged. "Love, especially the loss of love, can make you do crazy things. You'll find out in due time."

Carl blushed and Rick wondered what that was all about. His son cleared his throat. "So, do you still love Michonne?"

"Yes," Rick said, without hesitation. "I don't know that I can say the same for her, though."

"She still loves you," Carl said confidently. "You just need to say you're sorry. And mean it."

"I'm glad you two are on talking terms again. I'm glad I didn't come between the two of you after all."

"I was pissed, don't get me wrong. I'm not happy that you cheated on mom. But Michonne is my best friend and she came through for you at the meeting. I can't change the past, only the future. And a future with Michonne and her sword is a lot less boring."

Rick laughed. "I wonder if I'd been the one with the sword, if you would have forgiven me so easily."

Carl shrugged and smirked in response.

"Well, I wish it were as easy as saying sorry, but I'm afraid it's going to take a lot more than fish sticks to get Michonne to forgive me."

"Never underestimate the power of a fish stick."

This moment with his son, the two of them joking around again, filled Rick with the strength he would need to face Michonne and beg for her forgiveness.

Carl leaned over to hug Rick. His son's embrace solidified his courage.

"Bring her back, Dad. Promise." Carl suddenly sounded a lot younger than his sixteen years.

"I promise, son," Rick said, though he was suddenly unsure if he could keep his word.

Rick knocked on Michonne's front door and waited. His heart beat a drum roll against his ribs. He ran through his speech for the umpteenth time. He was sorry and could understand if she hated him. He didn't deserve a strong and beautiful woman like her. But he loved her, and she still loved him. And they were meant to be together.

Sasha opened the door, putting an end to Rick's silent rant. Her expression was not exactly welcoming when she realized who had knocked on her door.

"Hey, Rick," Sasha said with a half-smile.

"Hey, Sasha," Rick said, his voice confident despite the uncertainty of his mind. "Is Michonne here?"

Sasha crossed her arms. "Yeah." She didn't move aside to grant him entry. "But she would probably never speak to me again if I let you in."

"Understandable, considering," Rick said, not sure how much Michonne had shared with Sasha.

"Considering you found out you were the father of her deceased child and kicked her out of her home?"

Rick's cheeks flushed. "Considering that, yes."

"Hmmph." Rick could have sworn Sasha rolled her neck slightly.

"I came to thank her for last night, for speaking up for me. Think she would make an exception for a thank you?"

"Only if you're here to apologize as well."

"I'm here to apologize as many times it will take to win back the woman that I love."

Sasha's face softened and Rick knew he had won her over. If only Michonne would come around this easily, he thought.

Sasha smiled and the tension between them eased. "I'm betting on at least seven apologies and plenty of groveling." She moved aside to let Rick pass. "She's out back with Daryl. Good luck."

"Thanks," Rick said. But all the luck in the world might not be enough.

Sasha nodded to him as he continued through the house to the backyard. He noticed Michonne's katana leaning against the couch in the living room. Her sword belonged above the mantel in their home, not lazing against the couch. It belonged in their house, with him.

The patio door was open and as Rick approached, he heard Daryl's voice.

"'Chonne," Daryl said in a husky voice. There was no response, only the rustle of leather, spurring Rick to pick up the pace.

He zipped through the open door to find Daryl leaning in toward Michonne, his hand on resting on her thigh. Daryl's eyes were closed, his lips inches from hers.

Michonne had her eyes closed as well, not leaning forward, but not pulling back either.

Rick cleared his throat loudly, startling the two of them, their eyes shooting open and Daryl straightening up. "I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?" Rick passed an accusatory glare between Daryl and Michonne. He pulsed with rage.

Daryl and Michonne scrambled to their feet. Daryl looked like he had been caught trying to steal from the cookie jar. Michonne just looked annoyed.

"I'd like to speak to Michonne for a minute," Rick said, failing to keep his voice level.

But Daryl stood his ground. He turned to Michonne. She nodded to Daryl almost imperceptibly. Daryl reached out and squeezed her forearm, and she smiled. Rick clenched his fists.

"Just holler if you need anything," Daryl said. Rick met Daryl's eyes as he passed. Where Rick had expected to see hostility, he saw something else – fear. And then Rick realized what he had been too blinded by his own emotions to see – Daryl was painfully and utterly in love with Michonne. And he was just as afraid of losing her as Rick was.

Pity replaced Rick's anger. He questioned whether he even had the right to pursue her. She had given everything to him – mind, heart, body, soul – and he had thrown it all back in her face.

Were his intentions to claim her selfish? Should he just step aside and let her finally be happy?

But then he and Michonne were alone and he looked into those deep brown, knowing eyes and he knew he couldn't just give up. She was his and he was hers and there was no going back. He loved her. And he was fighting for more than just himself – he was fighting for his family, Michonne included.

"I wanted to say this last night, but you left before I had the chance," Rick said, not daring to close the distance between them, afraid she might scurry away. "Thank you for…your kindness. I definitely haven't done anything to deserve it."

Michonne looked just over his left shoulder, avoiding his gaze. "I did it for Carl, not for you. A boy needs his father."

Rick's heart squeezed in regret. "You're right now and you were right then. Andre needed a father and you were able to give that to him…with Mike. I'm grateful for that."

Michonne still would not look at him but she sighed and uncrossed her arms. "You've said what you had to say. Now go."

Rick didn't budge. "That's not all that I have to say."

"Well, that's all I'm willing to listen to. If you don't mind, I'd like to move on with my life."

"With Daryl?"

Michonne kept her expression blank. "That's none of your business or concern. Besides, I think it's best for everyone if we just forget we ever met."

Michonne moved toward the house and Rick stepped in front of her, blocking her way. He reached out to grab her shoulders, but she moved out of reach.

"Don't touch me," she said in a low voice. "You don't get to touch me anymore."

"Michonne, please baby," Rick said, unafraid to express his desperation. "I know I've handled all of this in the worst way possible. Jessie means nothing to me. Less than nothing."

"Which makes what you did even worse, Rick," Michonne said, finally meeting his eyes. Rick flinched at the raging fire in her eyes, wishing they were bright with desire and not anger.

"I can't ask you to forgive me for that. It was thoughtless and pathetic and I wish I could take it back. But I can't. And I need to explain myself."

Michonne looked away but didn't move to leave. Rick took that as a sign of encouragement. "When we parted," he continued, "I couldn't stop thinking about you. Your laugh, your smile, your lips…"

Michonne sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I imagined what our life would have been like if I'd met you first…before Lori. If Carl was your son and not Lori's."

Michonne listened now and Rick found the courage to continue. "Just the thought of it made me want to pack my bags and leave her. And maybe if you had told me about Andre, I would have." Rick looked away and into the distance. "And I would never have forgiven myself for that. For leaving Carl without a father."

Rick moved for her now, grabbing her hands. "Thank you for making the choice that I might not have been strong enough to make back then."

Michonne's bottom lip trembled and Rick longed to comfort her. But as he moved to take her into his arms, an explosion shook all of Alexandria. And Rick knew his luck was finally up.

A/N: Not exactly on time, but close! Hope you enjoyed this little snippet and are still rooting for Richonne. Things are about to get real, so prepare yourselves. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the positive feedback. Your follows, faves and reviews are so awesome!