Michonne emptied her top drawer, packing the remainder of her undergarments into her suitcase. She had never been one to hoard non-essentials, so one suitcase was more than enough to hold all of her belongings.

"You really leavin'?" Daryl asked. He leaned against the doorway, his muscular arms crossed.

"We talked about this already," Michonne said with her back to him. She was not in the mood for another fight.

"It was more like you talkin' and me listening."

Michonne had decided to move in with Rick and Carl for the next month or so, until Carl was fully recovered. Daryl had been less than enthusiastic about her decision.

"Carl needs me. Rick is too busy leading Alexandria to watch over him. He'll be out for at least the next three days."

Denise had decided to use medication to extend Carl's coma and give his brain extra time to heal. She predicted he would wake up in the next few days, or a week at the most. Only then would they know the true extent of the damage caused by the gunshot wound.

"I need you," Daryl said quietly.

Michonne sighed, the guilt rushing over her in waves. Daryl had been her rock through this whole dilemma with Rick. He had been there to listen, to literally give her a shoulder to cry on. He understood her in ways Rick never would. She trusted him. And yet, she had to leave, knowing it would hurt him.

"We should discuss this later, once Carl has recovered."

Michonne continued packing. She wanted to avoid the inevitable for as long as she could. His friendship meant everything to her, but she was not in the place for a relationship right now. Carl was her top priority.

"If you move back in with him...I'll lose you." He walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Don't do this, 'Chonne."

Michonne stopped packing and turned to face him. "I don't have a choice. You know how important he is to me."

"Carl is important to me too. But Carol, Maggie or anybody else could help Rick out. Why's it gotta be you?"

"Regardless of what's happened between Rick and me, we're family. And I can't turn my back on family."

Michonne's heart dropped at the hurt in Daryl's eyes. "But you can turn your back on me?" Daryl stepped away from her. "Guess that family doesn't include me."

"Daryl, it's not like that…" Michonne reached out for him, but he pushed her hand away.

"I'm don't wanna just be your friend, Michonne." Daryl turned serious. "I'm in love with you."

He said the words she should have longed to hear. Instead, they filled her with anxiety and dread. Michonne had started to entertain the idea of moving beyond friends, to be something more with Daryl, but she was nowhere near love. His bold confession deserved her honesty.

"I care about you Daryl. You're a strong, caring man. If things were different, I could see us having a future together. But I can't give you anything more than friendship right now. I'm sorry."

Daryl nodded slowly, his lip curled in disdain. "So he dumps you after finding out you had a son together and then cheats on you – and you wanna go back to him."

Well, when you put it like that, she thought. But for her, this was all about Carl and had nothing to do with Rick; though the thought of living under the same roof as him did not completely repel her.

His eyes filled with disinterest. "You're not the woman I fell in love with. She was stronger than this. I want her back."

"Please try to understand," Michonne said.

"I get it," Daryl said, turning to leave."Family comes first."

Michonne watched him walk away from her, an emptiness settling into the place he'd filled with warmth and laughter. She valued his friendship and hoped in time they could be close again, but she was not going to change her plans to appease him.

He's right about one thing, she mused, family always comes first.

Judith sat in her high chair at the dining room table, clapping her chubby hands as Rick fed her another spoonful of sweet potato. Michonne sat across from them, amused as Rick made a complete mess of feeding Judith, pureed sweet potato smeared across her face and bib.

"I'm thinking we should hammer out a schedule," Michonne said. "To help simplify things."

And to avoid each other as much as possible, she thought.

"Works for me," Rick said, buzzing his lips to simulate the sound of an airplane. He moved the spoon slowly towards Judith's mouth, like he was bringing it in for a landing.

"I can take the day shift if you take the night," Michonne said. "Abe can handle constable duties on his own during the day, since things have calmed down some. The community watch group we put together is making a difference. It was a great idea to start one."

Rick had been voted as the new leader of Alexandria and passed his constable duties on to Abe. Michonne enjoyed Abe's company on their walks around the property, checking security at the gates and handling disputes among the community members. He had also suggested starting a group to aid with security, for which several people volunteered. It was a great way to empower the community and help them all feel a lot safer.

"Things are winding down a little, now that Reggie's on board. So getting home by dinnertime shouldn't be a problem." He fed the last of the sweet potato to Judith and cleaned her face and hands with a baby wipe. "You and Abe seem to work well together."

Michonne nodded. "He knows what he's doing. And I trust him. Though, he talks a lot more than you do."

Rick laughed. "Abe is a decent guy."

"Just not all that good at relationships. He mostly talks about Rosita and how pissed she is with him most of the time. The big guy is clueless."

"If anyone can help him out, you can," Rick said. "You've got a knack for sorting through the bullshit to find resolutions."

Michonne laughed. "Well, my advice to him would be to break up with Rosita. But I doubt he wants to hear that."

"Maybe it's exactly what he needs to hear. Abe's hard as a nail on the outside, but all soft and mushy on the inside. He'll listen." Rick lifted Judith from the high chair, her short legs kicking in mid-air. She gurgled as Rick planted a kiss on her face. "He's a good guy."

"Yeah, he is." Michonne said, watching them closely. "Ok, I'm going to call it a night." She stood from her chair. "I'll check on Carl again before I turn in."

Rick looked up at her, his clear blue eyes reaching secret places. "Thanks, Michonne. For everything."

"Sure." Michonne turned away from Rick, ignoring the stirring of her heart.

I'm here for Carl, she told herself. She hoped the schedule would help put more distance between her and Rick. He was slowly creeping his way into her personal bubble and sucking up all the air, making it difficult for her to keep things straight.

Michonne walked into Carl's room, the desk lamp the only source of light. The stack of comics in the "Read" pile was growing taller. Enid had visited Carl several times since he'd returned home. Sometimes she read from his comics, describing the pictures in detail, and other times she just talked to him, giving him updates on Alexandria and her own life. Michonne tried her best not to eavesdrop but she had to find her bits of joy somewhere. Witnessing first love never failed to warm the heart.

Carl lay on his back, dressed in flannel pajamas. His arms rested on top of the overturned comforter. He looked as though he were sleeping peacefully rather than in a coma.

Michonne sat in the chair beside his bed. She cradled one of his hands, finding comfort in the warmth.

"Judith spoke her first word yesterday," Michonne said. "During a visit with you. 'Buba' is what she called you." She paused as though they were having a real conversation. "Not a bad name for you. Could have been worse."

She smoothed his messy hair. "One of the first things I'm going to do when you wake up is cut these unruly curls. Can't have you looking like pre-Alexandria Rick." She chuckled, remembering how wild Rick looked with the beard and long hair.

"Enid plans on surprising you with a new comic tomorrow. You chose well, Carl. She's smart and tough like you. You be sure to treat her well when you wake up."

Michonne leaned over and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Sleep well, kid."

She replaced the bandage over his eye and emptied his bedpan before retiring to her bedroom.

Her suitcase lay unopened on the twin bed. Her old room looked exactly as it had when she'd moved out. She tried not to think about that day, not wanting to rehash all those emotions. She unpacked her belongings in less than ten minutes. Michonne had never been that interested in material possessions, which suited her in this new world. Give her only what she could carry in a knapsack and she was fine.

Michonne walked around the bed to the desk, to start a "shopping" list of all the medical and food supplies they needed to replenish. She stopped in her tracks. Propped on the desk was a picture frame holding two photos - the first was the picture of Mike and Andre that she'd given to Rick and the second was a black-and-white photo of her, Judith and Carl, sitting on the front porch of their home.

Michonne noticed the right side of the second photo had been folded over, hiding Rick. Aaron had taken the picture soon after they'd moved into the house. She smiled, picking up the frame. The word "Family" was engraved on the border. They all looked so happy - Andre and Mike, Michonne and the kids. It was difficult to remember the last time she'd felt that happy. So much had transpired since then.

Michonne accepted this gift from Rick. She just hoped the gesture wasn't an attempt to win her back. She had made it clear from the start that she was moving in only to help out with Carl and planned to move out once he was fully recovered. Rick had seemed to agree, not pressuring her for anything more.

Michonne would do her best to take this as a sign of friendship – and nothing more. The sexual tension between them had made a platonic friendship almost impossible in the past. This was their chance to finally do it right, to get to know each other as friends rather than lovers.

As long as she and Rick remained on the same page, everything should run as smoothly as she expected.

Dinner that night was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, the best Michonne could do with their food stores at the moment. She had no trouble feeding Judith small pieces of her own sandwich, since the tot loved peanut butter in any form.

Michonne heard the front door open and close. "I'm home," Rick called from the other room.

"We're in the kitchen," Michonne called in response. Judith gurgled happily, opening her mouth wide for another piece of the sandwich. Michonne plopped another bite onto her little tongue, watching her chew happily.

"Long day," Rick said tiredly as he entered the kitchen.

"I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. There are potato chips in the cupboard," Michonne said.

"Thanks." Rick removed his holster belt and slung it across the back of a chair. He grabbed the chips and his sandwich and joined Michonne and Judith at the kitchen island. He kissed Judith on the forehead before taking his seat.

He bit into his sandwich. "Mmm, this hits the spot." He popped a few chips into his mouth, crunching loudly.

"How was your day?"

"Full of meetings, half of which were actually useful. Reg has some good ideas for reinforcing the walls. He even planned out some spots for crops and a new school. I think we could really start something new here."

"Glad to hear that he's up and about again. It was touch and go there for a while."

"Yeah, I was worried he would lose it completely after Deanna died, but he's been able to pull it together. Spencer, on the other hand…"

Michonne wiped Judith's mouth with a baby wipe. She handed her a toy to keep her busy. "What about Spencer?"

"He would prefer for his dad to be in charge and isn't afraid to voice that opinion."

"Is he going to be a problem?"

"Glenn said he's overheard Spencer trying to convince a few others to join his cause, but so far he's had no luck. I'm not worried about it."

"I'll ask Abe to keep his ears open. Sounds like Spencer is still upset about Deanna, but we'll make a point to keep an eye on him. Better safe than sorry."

"Thanks," Rick said, finishing the last of his sandwich. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I've never been good at anything even resembling politics. That's why I became a sheriff's deputy."

Michonne laughed and leaned forward on her elbows. "And yet, you're a natural leader. Who's managed to keep us all alive for this long."

"Well…I had a lot of help."

"Maybe. Besides not wanting to be stuck in meetings all day, what made you want to become a sheriff's deputy? I don't think you've ever told me."

"I guess you've never really asked." Rick smiled. "My grandfather was a deputy and then sheriff, for fifteen years. After my dad skipped town, he pretty much raised me. I was a nightmare as a teenager, skipping class and getting into fights."

"Hard to imagine," Michonne said sarcastically.

"I wasn't that bad," Rick said, his lip curling into a smile. "But one night, after me and Shane picked a fight with a group of frat guys, he locked us up in a cell. He made me decide right then and there which side of the bars I wanted to be on. And I chose his side." Rick looked thoughtful. "And that decision saved my life…more than once."

"Sounds like your grandfather was a great man."

"He was. Taught me how to ride a horse and shoot a gun. But he also taught me how to be a man and take care of my family. I think that's what I'm most grateful for."

"It really makes a difference, having someone to look up to. My dad was that person for me."

"Was he a lawyer too?"

"Far from it. He actually tried to convince me not to study the law."

"Why's that?"

"He'd only ever had bad experiences with lawyers and couldn't bear the thought of his daughter becoming one of them."

"Makes sense."

"Hey, not all lawyers are jerks. Granted, some of the worst people I've met in my life were lawyers."

Michonne chuckled. "But seriously though," Michonne continued, "a lawyer was all I ever wanted to be, ever since I was a child. I wanted the power to protect the people that no one else would."

"Those are some pretty serious thoughts to have a kid," Rick said jokingly.

"Well, I had plenty of time on my hands, not really having any friends. I was pretty shy when I was younger and easily bored by most kids. I guess you could say I was mature for my age."

"Why does that not surprise me?"

"My aunt was actually the closest thing I had to a friend. She recognized my hunger for knowledge early on and would take me to museums and galleries whenever she had the chance. She was great." Michonne paused, looking down at her clasped hands. "Unfortunately, her husband did not appreciate her in the same way. He beat the shit out of her and no one lifted a finger to help her. Not even my parents."

"I'm sorry."

A knot formed in Michonne's throat, making it difficult to speak her next words. "He ended up beating her to death. And only spent a year behind jail for the murder."

"Shit," Rick said under his breath.

Michonne cleared her throat and shook away the grief and anger that accompanied that memory. "So I studied hard and became a lawyer. And then I tracked him down to some small town in Georgia. Of course he was married and repeating the cycle all over again. I knew it was just a matter of time before he killed his new wife as well. So, I convinced her to defend herself, promising to get her acquitted when the time came."

Rick crinkled his brow. "The trial where we met…Sadie Matthews."

Michonne nodded. "And I failed to protect her. She went to prison because of me. All because I wanted to make that man suffer for murdering my aunt."

Rick placed his hand over hers. "It was my testimony that helped put her behind bars. You were the one who saved her life, Michonne."

Michonne pulled away, trying to laugh it off. "Well, I guess my dad was right. Lawyers are pretty shitty human beings."

"Good thing you're no longer a lawyer, then." His smile gave her some comfort. "We've all been given a second chance, to recreate ourselves. And you've proven time and time again what a courageous and giving person you truly are."

His kind words, as always, eased her mind. "Thanks," she said. She kissed Judith on the forehead. "I better head out, my shift is starting soon."

"Good night," Rick said, watching her go.

"Good night," Michonne said, not looking back as she left.

Michonne came back from her afternoon jog to find Rick sitting on the couch with a black eye and busted lip.

"What happened?" Michonne asked, unable to contain her shock.

"It looks worse than it feels," Rick said, wincing as he tried to crack a smile.

"Don't move," she said sternly, heading to the kitchen for the first aid kit.

Michonne returned with the kit and removed her sweat jacket. She took a seat next to him on the couch. He closed his eyes and leaned back, resting his head on the cushion.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" she asked as she opened the kit. She fished out an alcohol wipe, gauze and medical tape.

Rick sighed. "Not much to tell. Daryl and I had a little disagreement."

Michonne paused. "What? You and Daryl got into a fight?"

"Don't worry, he's fine."

"So not the point." She removed the alcohol wipe from its package. "Come here."

Rick opened his eyes and leaned her way.

"This is going to sting," she said, as she dabbed the wipe against a cut right above his eyebrow.

"Ssss," Rick said, wincing.

"What did you fight about?"

"There's no need to make this a bigger deal than it is."

"I'm not trying to make this a big deal. I was just asking for information." Michonne tossed aside the wipe. She ripped a strip of medical tape from the roll.

"We decided to check out the grain storage that Eugene mentioned. The grain was gone, but we did find a truck full of supplies – food and toiletries mostly."

Michonne pressed the gauze against his cut. "And how did that lead to you two trading punches?"

"The tires on the truck were flat, so we had to pack as much as we could into the car, which meant leaving some stuff behind. We couldn't agree on what should come with us now and what we should leave for later."

She secured the gauze with the strip of medical tape. "All this over some supplies? I know there's been some…tension lately between the two of you. I blame myself for that. But I never thought in a million years that you would pick a fight with Daryl. He's your brother."

Rick held up his hands. "I didn't start the fight. He threw the first punch."

Michonne lowered her head, remembering the last conversation she'd had with Daryl a few days ago. Had he still been upset enough to start something with Rick? "That's still no excuse to fight him back."

"Trust me, he got in way more slugs than I did. I figured I deserved it."

"Why?"

"For stealing you away from him. For Carl, of course."

Mike had often told Michonne that men sometimes liked to handle disputes with their fists, rather than drawing conflict out like women typically did. She'd had trouble believing him until now.

She sighed, trying her best not to make it a bigger deal than it was. "Did it help?"

"Well, we didn't hold hands and sing 'Kumbaya' afterwards, but yeah, I think we're on the right track again."

Michonne exhaled in relief. Hopefully Daryl could learn to forgive her one day as well.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Rick said, digging into this back pocket. He pulled out a carton of mint toothpaste and handed it to her. "I noticed you were out and I know how you are about your dental hygiene."

Michonne beamed. The gift meant more to her than she would admit. Small luxuries like toothpaste made her world go round. "Thanks for thinking of me."

"Any time," he said, gazing at her. His eyes flitted briefly to her lips and Rick cleared his throat. "I should check on Carl."

Michonne's pulse raced. She'd both desired and feared for Rick to kiss her. "I'll go with you. He should be waking up sometime soon now."

The two of them walked up the stairs in awkward silence. Rick led the way to Carl's room. He stopped in his tracks, staring.

"What is it?" Michonne asked worried, unable to see what Rick was seeing.

"Carl?" Rick asked, his voice trembling.

Michonne stood beside Rick now. Carl sat up in bed, a smile on his face. "Hey Dad. Hey Michonne." His voice was a bit gravelly.

"Thank God," Rick said, rushing into the room to take Carl into his arms.

Michonne teared up. It had been way too long since she'd heard Carl's voice. She stood at the side of the bed. Tears streamed down Rick's face but he was happier than she'd seen him in a while. He moved aside then and Michonne embraced Carl, making certain it was all real.

"I missed you," Michonne said as she pulled out of the embrace.

"I'm hungry," Carl said.

Rick and Michonne laughed. "I guess you would be," Rick said.

"One chicken noodle soup coming up," Michonne said, moving for the door.

Rick suddenly grabbed her hand and smiled up at her. He nodded and she nodded in return. Small blessings were hard to come by these days, and having someone to share them with made all the difference.

A/N: Really enjoyed writing this last chapter. I like Rick and Michonne as friends and being able to discover new things about each other. We'll have some more-than-friends scenes coming up in the next chapter. :) And for the Daryl fans, don't worry, there's a new love on the way for him. Thanks again for sticking with the story and for all the support!