A/N: Just a quick note to tell you all I made a username change. I went from blackwomanwriter to blacklitchick to match the name of my tumblr page. I'm so glad so many of you enjoyed the last chapter. Thank you for reading!

I.

"He's a fuckin' kid. Ain't like we can just put a bullet in his head." Daryl leveled his squinty-eyed stare at Carol.

"I'm not about to walk in there and pull out my gun, but we need to think about our options. He shot Carl. He's a danger." Carol crossed her arms but didn't meet Daryl's gaze. What she had to do to Lizzie followed Tyreese to his grave, and she planned on the deed being buried at her final resting spot also. She didn't know if anyone would understand how dangerous the girl was if they hadn't experienced it themselves. Her and Daryl were already on shaky ground lately. They didn't need anything else impeding on their relationship.

"If Nicholas was just released after what he did to Glenn then Deanna ain't gonna put no kid out on the street." He said.

"Well something needs to be done."

"We wait for Rick. We do what he says we do." Daryl scratched at the hair that grew wildly on his chin.

"Rick is at Carl's bedside day and night. Besides if Carl doesn't recover, what Rick are we going to get? You remember what he was like after Lori."

"Yeah, but Michonne ain't gonna to let him loose it again. She got this."

"Speaking of which..." Carol gestured with her chin as Michonne crossed the street and made her way over to where they stood in front of the house being used as Ron's holding cell.

"Hey guys. What's going on?" Michonne said.

"Jessie and Sam are inside visiting Ron. We're just out here to give them some privacy." Carol said.

"And to make sure the lil' gun slinger don't try to get away." Daryl said.

Michonne put a hand on the back of her neck and shook her head. "I still don't know what we should do with him. We can't exile a kid, but I don't feel comfortable with him walking around free either."

"That's just what we were talking about." Carol said. "Do you think Rick is up to giving his two cents on what should be done?"

Michonne shook her head again. "I don't think he's mentally ready for that just yet. Ron's secured in that house. That's going to have to do for now."

"We got other things to worry 'bout anyway." Daryl said. "What happened the other night wasn't no coincidence. We need to find out who set those walkers on us. Me and Aaron goin' to go out and do some investigating 'round the area today."

"Sounds good. We never had that meeting to strategize. Why don't we all meet at our house this evening. Think you guys will be back by then?" Michonne asked Daryl.

"Should be."

"You be careful out there." Carol said to him.

Daryl hit her shoulder with his. Some of their old playfulness was slowly coming back. "Yeah."

Just then Jessie walked out of the house. She looked as if she hadn't slept in days. The blonde woman was wearing an old sweatshirt and jeans a size too big.

Sam jetted out behind her to run down the porch steps to Carol. He threw his small arms around her and rested his head on her stomach. She rubbed his hair and smiled down at him. Try as she might, she couldn't resist taking care of hurting children.

Daryl quickly went up to the front door and locked the outside deadbolt making sure their young prisoner was securely inside.

"Hey Michonne," Jessie said meekly, "Carol, he enjoyed the food you made for him."

"Good." said Carol.

"Mom, can I go with Carol?" Sam asked.

Jessie looked down feeling the pain once again of her child reaching out to another woman. "Sure. If it's okay with Ms. Peletier."

"Come on. Let's go make cookies." Carol and Sam made their way down the street. Daryl gave Michonne a single nod and walked in the opposite direction leaving the two ladies alone.

Jessie sat down on the top porch step. Michonne continued to stand with one foot resting on the bottom step and hand on her hip.

"How's Carl doing?" Jessie asked.

"About the same. We're just in a waiting game right now." Michonne said.

"I thought about visiting to show Rick my support, but I don't think he'd want to see me. He probably hates me for what Ron did."

"Rick doesn't have time to hate anyone right now. All of his energy is on Carl."

Jessie looked down. When she looked back up at Michonne tears were gathered in her eyes. "Rick's a really good guy."

"He is." said Michonne

"Ron told me," Jessie paused not sure if she should tell Michonne what was on her mind. It felt silly to admit given their current circumstances, "He told me he saw you and Rick kissing at the dinner party after all of the drama. Are you two...? I don't know what I'm saying. I'm rambling now."

"Is this what you really want to be focused on right now?" Michonne asked.

Jessie shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I know it shouldn't be, but he was just always so nice to me from the first time I met him. I hadn't ever really experienced that. My family was never very supportive. They thought I should suck up the abuse and be grateful I was married to a doctor. Pete had alienated me from all of my friends. Deanna turned a blind eye. So Rick was...he was like my savior. I thought we could have something. I guess it's just hard to give up that fantasy even after he rejected my kiss," she said quietly, "But no, you're right. I need to focus on my kids. Do you know what they're going to do to Ron? I tried going to Deanna, but she refuses to see anyone."

Michonne looked at Jessie with sympathy. She couldn't imagine going through the abuse she endured for years. "I don't know, but we aren't going to kick out a kid. Something will be done though. Ron may not have his freedom for awhile."

"As long as he's alive then we can deal with anything."

Michonne nodded and looked away from her. Carl is alive too, but for how much longer. She quickly banished that thought from her mind. "Yes, you are very fortunate to have both of your children alive and healthy."

Jessie started to stammer out an apology when she realized what she said. "I mean Carl will be okay too. I'm sure of it."

"Yeah, he will be." Michonne said. "Take care of yourself, Jessie." She turned to walk away.

"Wait," Jessie said. Michonne turned back around waiting for her to speak up. The woman suddenly seemed hesitant.

"Yes?" Michonne asked.

"Tell Rick...just tell him I'm sorry."

"I will." Michonne said before leaving the woman on the porch.

II.

"Remember your eighth birthday party we had at The Party Palace? I swear that restaurant was around when I was a kid, and old man Johnson still ran the place. The kids always loved it though. You were having a blast with all of your friends. I think your mom had to take a couple extra strength aspirin that night. All of the noise from the games and the kids drove her crazy, but you couldn't tell because she was just happy you were happy..."

Deanna felt guilty listening to Rick talk to his still unconscious son in his private moment of reminiscing, but she didn't want to interrupt. When there was a pause she knocked lightly on the half-opened door. Rick turned in his chair to see Deanna looking apprehensive. He gave a quick look over to Carl and then rose and met her at the door.

"Deanna." He said. He noticed she was looking more like herself dressed in a nice blouse and slacks. Her hair was neatly styled.

"Hello Rick. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's fine."

"I wanted to come back to see how Carl is doing."

"No change."

"No parent should have to see their child this way." She sighed. Her voice was starting to come out shaky as she held back her tears. "I need to apologize to you Rick. I made a grave mistake in not listening to you about keeping the community safe. I'm sorry your son had to pay the price for my stubbornness."

Rick softened the hard stare he was giving the woman. "Nobody would have guessed this would have happened. I have to take my part in creating this too. It's not all on you."

"When you're ready I want to discuss how we can make the community safer. I'm no longer fit to run the community. At least not on my own. I need your help, Rick."

"You have it." Rick said. "Me, Michonne, and everyone else will work our damnest to protect what we have here." He paused before continuing. "I'm sorry about Aiden and Reg. I don't think I ever gave you my condolences. You've been through a lot too."

"I thought I had everything all figured out. We had deaths here and there, but I didn't think this type of tragedy will ever hit my family. My hubris cost half my family their lives."

"I know something about living with guilt and being haunted by the dead. It can slowly eat away at you if you let it."

"I'm going to use this grief to fuel change. Hopefully we can prevent anything this from happening again." Deanna hesitantly placed a comforting hand on Rick's arm before leaving.

Rick looked back into the room hoping to see his son's eyes open and looking at him, but Carl was still in his ongoing slumber. He walked over to the coffee pot sitting on a single portable burner. There were a few packets of sugar and Sweet N' Low spread around, but he just took the coffee black. He turned to see Craig walking down the hallway with a book in his hand.

"No change?" Craig asked as he poured himself the last of the coffee in the pot.

"No change." Rick confirmed. "I want to thank you for all you're doing to save Carl. I see you in here working tirelessly. I appreciate it more than you know. I just..." Rick shook his head.

"You just don't know why he won't wake up. I know but all of his vitals look good. Sometimes when our bodies experience this type of trauma it goes into hibernation to rest and rehabilitate. Michonne told me you know something about that."

Rick leaned against the counter. "Yeah like father, like son. I wish head hand matching Little League trophies in common instead of bullet wounds."

Craig studied the man in front on him taking in the bags under his eyes, his wrinkled clothes, and how his eyes kept darting to where he son laid. "When I first arrived at this community I didn't like you much, and I'm damn sure you didn't like me either."

Rick smirked. "Well I don't like most people at first. Don't take it personal."

"Michonne told me that also. You two seem to be of one mind sometimes."

"Fortunately her mind takes over more than mine. I don't know what I'd do without her." Rick said. He almost shuddered at the thought of Michonne not being by his side.

Craig was struck by the sincerity in the Rick's voice. "I used to think that too. Then she dumped me. I moved on. Had other meaningful relationships, but part of me always thought about what it would have been like if we'd stayed together. A part of me always loved her. Probably always will. She has that effect on you. She's special."

"That she is." Rick said. "She says you're a good guy, and I've witnessed it here myself." Rick held out his hand. "Welcome to our team."

Craig looked at Rick's outstretched arm then back into his eyes. "You treat her right."

"If I don't she'll be the first one to kick my ass. Trust me." Rick said as the two men shook hands.

III.

Rick walked outside to get some air. He sipped his coffee and looked at the walls around the community. The walls that were supposedly fit to keep his family safe. He was so lost in thought he jumped slightly when he felt a hand touching his shoulder. Turning around quickly, on alert, his warrior stance softened when he saw Michonne standing next to him. His arm instantly slid around her waist as she leaned into him. Since the talk they had days earlier a deeper intimacy had developed between them.

"Where did you get coffee? I was craving some this morning, but we didn't have any at home." She said.

Rick wordlessly handed her his cup. He watched as she sipped and savored the warm liquid before handing it back to him.

She took in his profile noticing his hair was graying at the temples. "Jessie wanted me to tell you she's sorry." She said.

Rick just looked over at Michonne, nodded, and turned his attention back to the wall.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked

"I'm wondering how long those walls will keep us safe. They're not going to keep anyone out who really wants to get in here." He said.

"No they won't." Michonne agreed. "Like I told you before, something's going to happen. We just need to be prepared. Re-creating some of the protective provisions like we had around the perimeter of the prison would be a good start."

"Deanna came by to see me. I think she's finally seeing things our way. Maybe we can save this place."

"I scheduled a strategy session at our house this evening."

"You want me there?" Rick asked her.

"No, you stay here with Carl. I can handle it."

"Okay." He said softly grateful she was there to take care of things when he couldn't. "Can I share something crazy with you?" He asked

She pushed back some of his unruly curls that had escaped to his forehead. "Who else can you share your crazy with?"

He smiled before quickly looking serious again. "I sometimes miss it out there. Still. Being out there so long changed me. I absorbed some of the wildness. I can't turn off that animal instinct."

"Human instinct and animal instinct are one in the same. We're back to being the animals we were always meant to be. The modern world just had us domesticated for awhile."

"So we're all just animals now, huh?"

"We can be civilized animals." Michonne growled and made a clawing motion with her hand.

Rick laughed slightly and leaned over to kiss her on the nose. She rested her head on his shoulder as they continued to look at the wall.

"I've been thinking," Rick said breaking the silence, "About how could I go on if Carl doesn't make it." Admitting Carl may not wake up almost left him breathless.

"Carl's going to –"

Rick raised his head to stop what Michonne was going to say. "I know neither one of us want to admit it, but there's a chance that our boy is gone."

Michonne's gaze focused on the cracks in the cement on the sidewalk as a single tear flowed from her eye. Rick was right. She couldn't think about a scenario with Carl not being okay.

"But I have to go on," he continued. "Judith needs her father."

Michonne untangled herself from Rick's embrace and stood in front of him. "I need you too."

"The reverse is more true." He said reaching out to grip her waist with his hands.

"Stop downplaying your worth, Rick." She took a tiny step forward so there was no room between them. "I need you. I love you."

Rick shook his head almost not believing he was hearing those three words coming from her mouth. He dreamed about them, longed to hear them, before he even admitted to himself how he felt. The reality of having Michonne's love was enough to knock him off of his feet. He pressed his forehead against hers before finding her lips and kissing her deeply. The warmth of her body felt right at home so close to his. Michonne broke the kiss first and rested her head on his chest. Rick curled one of her dreads around his finger while making circles on her back with his other hand. The two of them stood in an embrace until they heard shouting behind them.

"Rick!" Craig came running out of the infirmary. "Great Michonne you're here too. Both of you come quick."

Rick and Michonne ran into the building fearing the worst. Both came to a halt at the entrance of the room when they saw bright blue eyes staring out at them. They looked at each other with tears streaking down their faces. Rick made his way to the bed first. He gently held Carl's hand in his.

"Dad. You're here." Carl's voice came out in a hoarse whisper.

"Hey, son. I wouldn't be anywhere else." Rick felt like he was about to burst with the happiness he was feeling. He placed a kiss on Carl's hand.

Carl turned to look at Michonne who stood on the opposite side of the bed holding on to his other hand.

"Hey Michonne."Carl smiled as brightly as he could at her.

"Hey kid. You gave us quite the scare." Michonne said while laughing and crying. She was so overjoyed her boy was back.

"Sorry about that." He broke out into a cough. His throat was dry from being unconscious for so long. Craig poured him a cup of water and helped him drink the liquid.

"Nothing to be sorry about." Rick said once Carl was lying back comfortably on the bed again. "We're just glad you're back with us."

"Hey Dad?" Carl said.

"What is it, Carl?"

"I have one up on you."

"How's that?"

"You only survived only one gunshot wound. I survived two."

Rick laughed through his tears. "You got me there, son."