Chapter Thirty Four

Nights grew darker and the air grew colder, heavily suggesting that winter had hit us. Surprisingly this didn't bother us too much now we'd cleared out our safe zones in the prison and life was just about managing to cope normally now. Herschel did mention that the cold weather would prove a hassle for the crops he and Maggie grew but with the substantial supply of food in the kitchens, we knew we'd last through the cold months to come.

After the attack from the prisoners, life had become quite strenuous. It was as if we had had to rebuild everything from scratch with the knowledge that we had received a huge blow to our ranks. Five of our own we had lost, three more including the inmates. T-Dog, Shane, Allen and his boys had been grieved over but there was only so much we could do considering the situation we lived in now.

Lori's pregnancy was main priority now that the safe zones had been marked again and life was easier. She had grown bigger, if that was possible, over the last couple of weeks (months?) and Herschel had confirmed that she was surely due any day now. Plenty of supply runs had been carried out to gather anything we possibly could for what Herschel needed when the time came, though there was still a sense of uneasiness about the imminent birth. Under these tense conditions, the risks of child birth would be increased and the baby's and Lori's lives were at risk. Regardless, Lori tried to remain positive about her situation and I had to admire the woman's spirit.

From all our losses, Shane's had been the one that created the most effect - but in the perhaps wrong way. Since the announcement from Rick about what had happened that fateful night, there appeared to be a cover of uneasiness regarding Rick's leadership. Arguments had been thrown about the cell block about his reasons and motives, each time I tried to back up Rick's point when I could. Lori took the news bitterly and heated rows were frequent between the couple. It had even gone as far as Lori moving out of the cell she shared with Rick and into one on the opposite end of the row. That was a bitterly awkward day for us all.

Though after a while, Lori appeared to have perhaps accepted Rick's decision - a little too late perhaps? Rick's ideas regarding his wife appeared to have deteriated before the group's eyes and he rejected any white flag Lori offered him. He was hurt. Hurt at his wife's reaction to what he had had to do - something that had already broken him, no doubt. Hurt that his wife hadn't stood beside him when he needed her to. And now that Lori was trying to pick up the pieces that had been left behind, Rick just didn't seem to want to know. Not just yet. It was tense between the couple now and this was something sad to see. Especially when they were bringing a new life into the world soon.

So many times had I seen the sad, longing look in Lori's eyes when she gazed at her husband and plenty of times had she expressed to me that she was a terrible wife and mother. Lori's strong and admirable character was slowly breaking and it was difficult to watch.

I looked up from staring at the monitors - it was my turn on camera watch - to see a very plump Lori waddling down the upper floor platform towards the security room. I quickly jumped to my feet to open the door for her and smiled when she entered the room, bringing a certain glowing grace with her.

"I've come to keep you company for a while." She told me with a smile. I offered to help the heavily pregnant woman towards the couch in the back corner, which she accepted, and I made sure she was comfortable before returning to my place in front of the monitors. "Herschel's just been going through all the possible options for when I hit labour." She grimaced a little. "He doesn't beat around the bush, I'll tell you that!"

"It's a blessing we have him." I pointed out and Lori nodded in agreement.

"He's done so much for us all; helped Carl when he was shot, let us stay at the farm when we needed a home, now helping me through my pregnancy." She chuckled fondly. "Man deserves a saint's title!"

"Saint Herschel sure had a ring to it." I muttered, smirking a little. Lori wheezed another chuckle, waving my concerned look away with a flap of the hand.

"I'm fine, don't worry." She reassured. "Just can't wait for this baby to make an appearance; being pregnant has it's limits, I'll tell you that!"

"I gotta say, you're not as hormonal as I expected." I offered and Lori scoffed. "Had any cravings at all?"

"Not as much as when I was pregnant with Carl, though I would give anything for some potato waffles right now." I chuckled and grinned at the woman.

"All out, I'm afraid."

"Darn." Lori muttered, smiling slightly. "I can remember, when I was carrying Carl, that I'd always crave eggy bread." She hummed with slight pleasure before smiling fondly. "Would always hassle Rick to make me some but would eat far too much that I'd feel sick." She shrugged and beamed at me. "It's a hard balance." I raised an eyebrow and snorted a little. "You ever fancied having children, Ruby?" In thought, I turned to the monitors to give them a quick glance over, noting Carl and Sophia seemed happy enough sat with Toby on the ground level, before shrugging.

"Suppose I did at one point. Though now I don't think that really means a lot."

"I wouldn't sell the idea short, look at me!" Lori gestured to her bump as if to emphasise a point and I scoffed. "Though if you were planning it, I'd think it through very carefully."

"You seem far too eager for this idea. You plan on starting a mother's union or something?" I muttered and Lori smiled, chuckling a little. "It's easier for you anyway, you have a husband." Lori's smile flattered a little.

"A husband who can't stand the sight of me." She breathed, quietly, and I mentally kicked myself for the comment.

"I didn't think, I'm sorry." I said and Lori shrugged. "Are things still the same between you both?" I didn't like to pry, but it seemed that Lori needed someone to talk to, even just to vent her frustration at. She seemed to keep everything bottled up and Herschel had told her plenty of times that it wasn't good for her, especially in her condition.

"I didn't stand by my husband when I should have," Lori began, not meeting my gaze. "And I didn't realise how much that would hurt him. And now I pay the price with his bitterness."

"I don't think Rick can stay like this for too long, not when you're bringing a baby into the world together." I tried and Lori smiled sadly at my attempt. "Things may change when the baby is born."

"Maybe." Lori nodded in agreement. There was a moment of silence before Lori coughed, clearing the air. "How are things with you?" It was a general question, but I took a while to think it through.

"Alright I guess, under the circumstances." I muttered in reply. I wasn't pregnant at least. "Still on edge after what happened, but I guess we all are."

"Yeah," Lori nodded slowly. "Though hopefully that won't be a problem anymore." Her tone was hopeful and I was glad of it - glad there was still some of her old strength and will left. I smiled a little and turned back to monitors, to glance over them again, though something caught my eye very quickly. Something that startled me for a moment. Something I hadn't dreamt of seeing in a long time.

On one of the cameras displaying the outside of the prison, something moved nearby the tree line. I watched for a moment before a figure appeared between the trees. I was shocked for a moment as the figure looked horribly familiar. Dark skin, dark hair that looked as if it were thick and stranded enough to be dreaded, though hard to tell due to the quality of the image. I wasn't sure if it was just my eyes playing tricks - if so, it was a horrible trick - but it also seemed to look as if the figure held a long blade in one of their hands. A katana perhaps?

Michonne.

"Ruby?" Lori's voice asked, suddenly. I pried my eyes away from the footage for the moment and turned to the pregnant woman. She stared back, concerned. "You alright? Have you seen something?" In a second, I turned back to the monitors. Only to find that the figure had gone.

Strange.

"Ruby?" Lori implored again and my feet suddenly brought me to stand. "What is it?"

"I'm just going outside for a moment." I muttered. I didn't need to worry the others with my potential visions that may or may not be real. "Will you be able to watch the monitors for me, or should I go call someone-?"

"What have you seen?" Lori prodded, her face confused. I stared back at the woman for a moment, though seemed unable to tell her that I seemed to have envisioned my long gone companion on the monitors outside the prison. Michonne could be out there-

"Don't worry about it," I shook my head. "I just want to go check something, I'll be back before you know it." Lori didn't seem to like my answer and pursed her lips. "Do you want me to get someone-?"

"No, I'll manage while you're gone." She replied, shaking her head. "Could you help me up though?"

After positioning the pregnant mother on the chair in front of the monitors and making sure she was comfortable enough, I told her that I would be back very soon before rushing off to my cell to gather my knife and rifle. All the while, I felt Lori's worried gaze on me, but carried on my activities. All I kept thinking was of that one person, whom I'd tried to forget. I needed to be quick before she alerted the others on what I was doing. No one needed to concern themselves.

The prospect of seeing Michonne had dulled my senses, though I knew that there was a possibility that what I saw could have been a walker or perhaps just my imagination. It wasn't necessary to tell the others, they'd either think I was crazy or wouldn't understand my need to find out exactly what I had seen. I needed to find out if it was Michonne. And if it was Michonne, would Merle be nearby? The possibilities- I'd never felt so much excitement for a long time.

I turned to leave my cell, only to stop in mild shock. Daryl stood at the door of my cell, a confused and slightly harsh look on his face. He gazed long and hard at me in silence, scrutinising my weapons, making me tense considerably. I tried to keep my expression neutral though Daryl had an knack for detecting when I lied to him.

"What are ya doin'?" He muttered, eyes suspicious. I swallowed hard and shook my head. Perhaps a little too quickly?

"Just going outside for a bit." I told him, trying to keep my voice believable. Daryl's gaze softened slightly. Only slightly. "Needed some air from being cooped in that room all day. You know what it's like in there, you can still smell that dull essence of death and it really is a kick to your sinuses." Daryl remained thoughtful for a moment, as if trying to divulge my lie, before nodding once.

"I'll go get my crossbow 'nd come with ya-"

"No!" I hissed, far too quickly. Daryl stared in shock for a moment before his gaze hardened again. Nice one, Ruby. "I mean, I'd rather go on my own. I've got a lot of thinking to do and I'd rather do it alone."

"Bit dangerous for ya to go alone." Daryl muttered, eyes narrowing. "Ya can think in 'ere, no need to go outside." I shuffled uncomfortably under his scrutiny.

"Told you, I need the air." I insisted. "I'll be fine, I'm taking my weapons anyway, and I know how to look after myself." Daryl's eyed them for a moment before returning my gaze. "Can you watch over Sophia for me while I'm gone? She's with Toby and Carl at the moment, but do you mind just keeping an eye on her anyway?" I quickly asked, to avert his attention.

"Since when was I babysitter?"

"Please, Daryl?" I whined, annoyingly, before smirking when the hunter rolled his eyes.

"Whatever." He sighed, setting his jaw firm. "Don't go runnin' off, keep inside the grounds."

"Will do, Daddy Dixon." I nodded, with a grin of triumph. Daryl smirked a little before stepping aside to let me pass out of my cell. The hunter followed me to the door, even unlocked the cell block door for me, though paused before opening it fully.

"Be careful." Daryl muttered, a breath of volume. I nodded firmly when he set his hard gaze on me and smiled slightly when he reached out hesitantly to place an unsteady hand on my cheek. He left it there for a moment, running his fingertips along my skin, his expression thoughtful. He paused when his thumb grazed the edge of my lips and suddenly his hand was gone, tucked away in his trouser pocket.

Not another word was said and Daryl opened the door for me, to allow me to pass through. I smiled once more before leaving the cell block, glancing over my shoulder only when the sound of the cell block door echoing shut caught my ears. Daryl's retreating figure could be seen from within and I was glad that he wasn't following.

Since the evening Carl and Daryl returned to the group safely, there grew something unspoken between Daryl and I. After the kiss I had initiated, no more kisses were shared, and for a while Daryl had kept his distance. It was a heart-aching few weeks when Daryl pretty much ignored my existence though soon things returned back to semi-normality. Though the nagging feeling that something had changed was still there. Never had we spoken about that night, not even when we were alone. Conversation seemed to resume to normal and it was as if the kisses never happened. Though the almost terrified and hesitant touches from Daryl were enough to say otherwise.

I had told Lori and Andrea what had happened between Daryl and I and each time I had received similar responses. Give him time. Daryl wasn't the kind of man to jump into things and after everything he had told me about his past, I wasn't surprised. I had shocked him with my actions and it would take time for Daryl to grow into the change and decide where he stood. I respected that and appeared happy enough to let him take his time. I would be here when he made his decision.

When I reached the outside, I all but sprinted across the yard and grass compound. I quickly made my way in between the perimeter fences, all the time my eyes scanning the tree line, waiting to spot that familiar figure. My heart seemed to have flared into life at the prospect of seeing Michonne and Merle again. After so long! Long ago had the idea of them returning died and in one mere look it had almost returned. Though surely I was just imagining these things? Surely it wasn't Michonne that I saw? The excitement within was still enough to fuel my hopes.

I continued around the perimeter, my eyes stalking every movement I thought that I glimpsed. Please. When I finally reached the spot I saw her at, I paused to stare at they empty space. Perhaps I was truly dreaming? The emptiness screamed so, but there was something nagging at me that made me reconsider for a moment.

Swallowing hard, I backed off a little. I shouldn't be chasing silly visions. I shouldn't be holding onto the past. I should have let Michonne and Merle go by now. I owed them nothing, what use would it be to keep bringing them back when they weren't here any more? Though when I made to walk away, something stopped me. An invisible force that wouldn't let me return back to the prison. Back to the group.

I had once described Michonne, Merle and myself as family - a broken and dysfunctional family but one nonetheless. And I wasn't sure I was prepared to turn my back on them completely. Not without making sure. Especially not after everything we'd been through. I glanced at the prison, thinking about those within, and decided that if I was quick I could take a look around the immediate area outside the perimeter and return back before they even realised I'd gone longer than I'd told them. They wouldn't have been any wiser. Swallowing hard, I took the plunge. The plunge toward Michonne and Merle.

Ignoring the knowledge that the group would be angry if they knew what I was doing, I rushed to find a part in the fence that had been makeshift-tied with cable. I made quick work at undoing it and crawled through the gap when it was big enough and out of the safety of the fence. Just as quickly, I redid the cable and didn't hesitate before running towards the tree line; not wanting to attract the attention of any walkers that were staggering by our prison.

The undergrowth was thick and I had to haul myself through the first wade of bushes before I could venture further in. All the time, my eyes scanned between the trees, trying to spot the familiar figure I had seen before. Hoping and praying that I would see her. Which way I was going, I wasn't sure, and after a while I knew I had ventured further than I had intended. It seemed that I was chasing shadows after all but I had no intention of stopping just yet. I should give up and turn back before the others realised I'd gone longer than I said and would come looking. Hadn't I intended not to cause a fuss?

But I couldn't seem to will my legs to turn around, not with the prospect of seeing Michonne and Merle again, and I just kept going. My eyes worked frantically, taking in every detail and looking for any sign of life. So far, I hadn't even found a walker. Strange?

My pace slowed a little when my brain caught up with them and I realised fully what a stupid thing I had done. The group deserved more than what I had done, they didn't deserve to be worrying about where I was just because I was chasing after a dream in the dampened woods. It wasn't fair. I'd pay when I got back, that was for sure. With a sigh, I made to turn back and head to the prison, though a noise caught my attention. A whirling, propelling sound? Buzzing? It seemed high off the ground to be a car-

A helicopter?

I watched in a daze as the sleek black helicopter flew over top of the trees, heading in a different direction altogether to the one I was heading in. Smoke followed it's tail heavily and I knew something was wrong. Though that wasn't what concerned me the most - living people must be driving it. The sight of it numbed me down for a moment and I was completely taken back by the sight of the helicopter. Though the thought of more people struck me again and after a moment's hesitation, I was following it's path at a quick pace.

I suddenly wasn't chasing shadows anymore.

As the distance increased, I began to lose track of the helicopter as it appeared to be closing in on the ground. I realised quickly that it didn't have the intention of landing and rather the smoke was a huge give away. They were crashing. My pace quickened with worry and all so suddenly Merle and Michonne had been briefly forgotten. An almighty crash finalised the helicopters fate and it had long vanished from view. Up ahead though, smoke began to rise above the treetops and I knew the crash sight was near. The forest opened up into a clearing and the broken wreckage was revealed, I visibly started at the view.

Hissing and groaning were muffled, smoke rising from the cab. By the large propellers, the horrific sight of a body sliced in two greeted me and I had to turn away in fear of vomiting at the freshly dead soldier (his attire was a giveaway).Cautiously, I braved nearing the cab to see if there were any survivors, though found two more men, both with gaping wounds and who didn't seem to be breathing. I swallowed down hard before reaching forward, bravely, to try and find a pulse on the nearest soldier.

Nothing.

When I tried the other, I was met with the same conclusion. I backed away from the scene, completely startled by the find though felt mixed feelings for it. These soldiers must have come from somewhere, a safe zone? I could imagine telling the others, building up their hopes for a better place rather than griming it out at the prison we were in right now. But of course, I had no clue as to where this helicopter had come from. I then had another thought. Something had brought this helicopter down and that was what worried me a moment. Exactly what had done this?

A nearing car engine caught my attention and I quickly backed away toward the thick of the forest for cover. What else could happen today? I didn't venture too far away though, I was too intrigued by these new arrivals. Three trucks pulled up by the crash sight and I crouched down by the bushes, waiting anxiously to see who would get out the vehicles. My mind raced viciously at everything I was seeing, what the group would make of all this, I did not know. However my heart lurched when the first car door opened.

The Governor looked different than when I last saw him, though I recognised him instantly. His greasy hair had been cut short and his skin was clean shaved. All around, he looked much cleaner though a change of clothes and a hair cut wouldn't deem him unrecognisable. He was still the same monster from before, the same mannerisms that were detectable instantly and the same smug demeanour that followed. I grimaced at the sight of him, hoping I wouldn't have to see his face ever again since that time long back on the farm. We had been lucky this far, but our luck was running out apparently.

"Check the bodies." The Governor ordered to his men - most I didn't recognise. His voice was gruff and deeper, still sounding the same as if did months ago.

He slowly approached the severed body with a sauntering pace, that I immediately remembered hating, and stared down at it for a moment with an unfathomable expression. There was a startled moment when the body reanimated and tried to claw at the Governor from its broken position. The man merely tilted his head at the creature as it struggled uncoordinatedly on the ground. After a very brief hesitation, the man had produced a large, gleaming knife and had plunged it deep into the walker's skull without even a second thought. A sickening crunch and squelch followed when he pulled his knife free from its forehead.

"Both dead, Gov." One of his men called beside the cab. The Governor wiped the bloodied blade in his hand on his trouser leg.

"Deal with them." The Governor muttered, monotony, and there was a horrifying snap as his men obeyed his command without any unease.

"Suppose it's a shame, really." A familiar voice called from behind one of the trucks. Laurent walked toward the Governor, glancing around the area before standing at his leader's side. He looked exactly the same as the last time I saw him, grey hair, smug stature. Nothing about him was different and the sight of the man made me angry even more so. "If the damn thing hadn't have crashed, we could have used the helicopter. Could have found out where the soldiers were holding up. Could have employed the men into our ranks."

"Not sure the people of Woodbury would be all too pleased with the sight of heavily armed soldiers walking the streets." The Governor muttered, eyeing his second-in-command (and my once friend) with thoughtfulness. What on earth was 'Woodbury'? There was more people in the Governor's group?

"Just another dead end then, huh?" Laurent sighed, gazing at the crash with a frown. "Pity." The Governor murmured in agreement. "At least we know there's others out there." Hatred was building up within me, all that I had bottled up from months ago. I felt all too tempted to jump out from my position and take a swipe at either men.

Though a thought struck, rendering me immobile for a moment. I observed the group and their trucks and took note that they were carrying light. They were holding up nearby. This observation drew fear from within me and I felt physically ill at the idea that they could pass by the prison if they carried on through the forest. Right toward where we rested.I was itching to run back to the group, to tell them of the new danger that was posed on us, but I couldn't move from my position without alerting my attention to the Governor and his group. Fuck! This was not good, not good at all.

"Hey, Gov, looks like we got company!" One of the men hollered and for a moment I was scared that I'd been spotted. Though when a walker staggered out from between the trees and into the clearing, I breathed a sigh of relief when the group's attention was diverted.

The man that had noticed it first made swift work of his wrench, striking the walker hard and clobbering it till it moved no more. The passive looks between the group was mildly sickening but I couldn't dawn on them too much as more walkers began to immerge and the men suddenly tensed. The mini ambush didn't seem enough for them to handle, though their attention was solely diverted by the walker's. Enough for me to get out of there while I could?

However, when I made to run back toward the prison, I turned straight into the path of an unbeknown walker. Its eyes preyed on me and I was visibly stunned as it approached me. Stuttering, I fumbled for my knife though my hands were shaking and I found myself backing into a tree with death apparently imminent. Suddenly though, the walker halted a metre in front of me and there was a gargling noise as a blade was crunched through its skull from behind. I eyed it in shock and watched as it fell limp to the floor before raising my eyes to my saviour. Who stood there before me made me glad I had the tree trunk to support me, otherwise I feared I could have collapsed.

She looked exactly the same as she did all those months before. Exactly the same as when we drove the truck away, carrying everything I'd known and grown dependent on in this world. The woman who had saved me from the horrors of the Governor's group stood before me, very much real. Michonne held a finger to her lips and reached forward to grip my arm, pulling me back into a crouch. Her gaze turned back to the Governor and the group, who seemed to have taken out most of the walkers. I couldn't think straight, merely tried to concentrate on the contact and pressure from her grip. It was so real.

"You hear something over there?" Laurent muttered, his eyes glancing dangerously in our direction. Attention began to wander over and I felt my heart drop at the thought of being discovered. Not now, please not now.

"Perhaps it was an animal?" One of the men suggested. "Or another biter?" Biter? Another word for walker perhaps?

"Check it out." The Governor muttered, jutting his head in the direction of one of the unnamed men. With a hesitant stride, the man came to investigate, and I felt Michonne's grip tense. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her grip tighten on the blade in her hands. Oh how I'd missed the sight of that blade.

A muffled grunt caught our attention from behind and I glanced over my shoulder to see a walker stumbling toward the clearing, completely missing Michonne and I from our crouched position. A blessing? It staggered straight for the approaching man, but fell in an instance when he dispatched it with a thick, heavy rod. Beside me, Michonne let out a breath of relief.

"Let's get back to Woodbury, boys." The Governor called. "There's nothing here for us."

As quickly as they came, the men began to pack themselves back into their trucks. The Governor remained in the clearing for a moment, gazing around, his eyes passing close to our position but moving over us without a pause. His expression was suspicious though and Laurent had to call to get his attention before the man turned his back on the crash, and us, and head back toward the truck with Laurent behind the wheel. Michonne and I remained crouched as the trucks started up and the small convoy turned and drove away from the clearing. When the noise of their engines died away, relief passed over me.

"Not changed much, has he? Still a complete ass." Michonne muttered, her smooth voice bringing my attention back to her and I rounded on her in an instant.

She was real. Alive. After so long of hunting for them, after so long of wishing they'd come back to me and here before me now was the shadow I had been chasing. I couldn't describe the feeling that grew within me, I didn't know whether to be shocked, angry, happy, confused? The only thing I did though in that first initial reunion was throw my arms around the stone-hard woman and hold her tight for a moment, needing to truly comprehend that she was there.

Michonne had come back to me.

Though where was the last third of our trio?

"I can't believe you're here." I breathed, pulling away from Michonne. She smirked a little before standing. With a jut of her head, she led the way away from the crash site and I trailed aimlessly after her, with no idea what else to do. Though I was confused as to why she was walking away and if to sense my confusion, Michonne slowed her pace so I could keep up.

"We gotta move away from the crash site if we don't want to get swamped by any more dead." She explained. "The noise would have alerted many for miles around so we don't really want to get caught up in all that." I nodded, eyeing the woman, admiring everything about her and trying to explain the happiness within me. She was alive. "I thought you were dead." Her voice was shaky now as she spoke.

In that one sentence, she had killed all my happiness straight and I remembered the anger I felt toward the pair for leaving me that fateful day. I stopped dead, glaring at the woman.

"And I bet the guilt was just eating you up." I hissed, sarcastically. Michonne raised an eyebrow at my bitterness.

"I regret everything that happened that day, don't make out that I didn't care because you have no idea what happened." She tried, evenly. I scoffed in reply.

"I know exactly what happened," I began. "You two fucking left me!" I cried, eyes flaring. Michonne narrowed her eyes.

"It wasn't intentional-" Michonne tried, though I cut her off furiously.

"Intentional or not, you both still drove off without me. You left me to die!"

"It was a mistake." She muttered back. "I thought Merle told me to 'go', I did not know we'd left you until it was too late!"

"You could have come back for me!" I retorted, the pain of abandonment suddenly raw again. Michonne shook her head, her expression softening slightly.

"I didn't know what had happened until Merle tried to take over the wheel, screaming incoherent bullshit at me. We lost control of the truck and ransacked it. There was so many of them after us, we had no choice but to grab everything and go." She explained. "Besides, there didn't seem like there was much hope for you. There was so many-" She trailed off, eyeing me up and down for a moment before smiling slightly. "Though we were wrong; look at you now! I knew you were a survivor."I eyed the woman in silence for a moment, taking in the truth behind her gaze and realising that she regretted what had happened that day. "I know it doesn't mean much now, but I'm sorry for what happened."

"You're right, it doesn't mean much now." I sighed, shaking my head. "But it doesn't matter anymore. That's in the past." I studied her again, expecting her to be a vision that would disapear in the blink of an eye, though she grinned back at me and I felt a lot more hopeful than I had in a long time. "But you're here now and we're both fine." I grinned at the woman, though it flattered a little when another thought occurred. "What about Merle?" Almost instantly Michonne's smile faded too and I feared the worst.

"I lost Merle around the same time that I lost you." She told me. "Things were heated between us and it would have never worked anyway just the two of us, I knew that from the start. Not without you." She sighed. "We were attacked by a load of the dead one day and we got separated. I haven't seen Merle since then, but he was alive the last time I saw him."

"You've been travelling alone all this time?" I asked with a frown. Michonne nodded numbly and I was saddened by this. I had been with Rick's group for little around nine months now and all this time (and longer) Michonne had been travelling alone?

"It doesn't matter anymore though." She shrugged before smirking. "I've found you again. We don't have to be alone anymore, neither of us do."

"I'm not alone." I shook my head and Michonne raised a confused eyebrow. I hesitated before continuing, unsure whether telling Michonne about the group was a good thing but then remembered that this was Michonne, whom I trusted beyond all else, despite the separation between us. "I met another group and I've been with them for a long time now." Michonne's eyes immediately narrowed suspiciously. "They're good people, Michonne."

"I didn't think there was many good people left in this world anymore." She muttered, darkly, and I refrained from rolling my eyes at the typically Michonne comment.

"Do you not trust my judgement?" I questioned. Michonne snorted.

"Still got that attitude on you, after all this time." She observed. "You ain't changed a bit." I smiled.

"Neither have you." We stared at each other silently for a moment, reminiscing on past times and just getting used to each other's presence again - for Michonne, I suppose, she also had to get used to another living presence after so long in solitude. "I'll take you to my group, if you want? Like I said, they're good people. We'll tell them what's happened here and about the Governor. And we can ask them about you staying with us. You don't have to be alone anymore." Michonne's expression resumed suspicion, but it didn't phase me. Even after so long without her presence, I was able to remain immune to her hardened stare. "Do you trust me?"

There was another long pause as I offered my help toward my once friend. My last question still lingered in the air and I waited for my reply that would no doubt decide the ground in which we both stood on. Michonne's eyes implored mine, gouging out everything within and I merely stared back neutrally. Though I could not deny that I was tense at her reply. I didn't want her to leave me after so long of trying to find her.

A tight nod sealed our friendship and I grinned at my friend. Without another exchanged work between us on the matter, I led the way back through the undergrowth, a beam still present on my face with the stalking footsteps of Michonne trailing up beside me. What had happened with the Governor would certainly be something that I'd need to discuss with Rick as soon as we arrived back at the prison, but for now I was content with basking in the happiness that was the thought that my friend had returned to me.

Back safe to me, alive.

(Author's Note): Quite a rushed update for you all. I may look back on it later on and redo it because I'm not quite happy with it, though I'll wait to see what you guys think.

A lot happening here: I've reintroduced the Governor and a little add into Woodbury to answer all your questions regarding how far into that arc I was going! ;) And also a certain someone has returned to Ruby! Yes, Michonne is back, though without Merle... Any guessed what you think has happened to our handless Dixon?

Thanks for those who reviewed my last chapter, please spare some time to comment on this one. It would mean a great deal! :) Thanks very much again and I'll update when I can!