Neither Rick nor Michonne wanted to stop; not when they were still too close to the Civic Republic. They knew there would be people on their trail. They knew the Civic Republic would not want them live; not after everything Rick had gone through. Not after everything they had seen and been subjected to. No one left that community. No one left and lived to talk about it. And now, both Rick and Michonne had been inside of their walls and had escaped. They really could not afford to stop. Not this close. Not when they were still so far away from home. From their friends and family. From their children.

"I didn't even think to bring a photo," said Michonne, as she tended to Rick's wound; their reason for having to stop.

Rick winced a little as Michonne cleaned the gash to his left ribcage.

"I still can't believe it," Rick admitted. "It's like I can barely get my head around it. We've got a son. This is so surreal, 'Chonne. We've got a son."

She fixed a dressing to the wound and then wrapped it. Rick pulled his shirt back on with some difficulty. He smoothed the garment down and let out a shaky breath.

"And I missed all o' this time with him and Judith," said Rick solemnly as he faced Michonne and took hold of her hand. "All of this time with you. I'm sorry. Sorry for what you've been through without me there to protect you and take care of you. Sorry I for the pain you felt. Sorry you had to go it alone."

"I told you before," she whispered, giving his hand a squeeze. "You don't have to be sorry. You don't ever have to be sorry. For anything. What happened was not your fault."

"I know," he said, dipping his head and looking up through his lashes at Michonne. "I guess I'm feelin' sorry for myself a little, too. It was hell without you. Gettin' back to you and Judith is what kept me goin'. And now we've got this blessing."

Rick took a deep breath and continued.

"What if – what if he – if R.J. doesn't like me? I'm a stranger to him. I can't expect to just come back from the dead and assume that our son is gonna accept me."

"Rick," she said softly, causing him to lift his head. "He will accept you. Our son knows you. He knows all about you. How you'd do anything to protect the people you care about. How you're brave. How you're a good leader. How you love your family more than anything. Judith made sure to tell R.J. all about you."

"Only the good things, I hope," he said, slightly self-deprecatingly.

"Rick, I may be biased, but to me, there's only good things when it comes to you," Michonne said, beaming brightly at him; his breath hitched at the sight.

"God, I missed your smile," said Rick, as he reached up and stroked her face. "Thinkin' about you and that smile got me through a lot of long, lonely nights. Knowin' I was gonna see you again got me through. I'm sorry it took this long for us to be back together. I –"

"Stop that," said Michonne as she leaned into his touch. "Stop apologizing. We found each other again, and that's what matters. Nothing is going to stop us from getting back to our kids. Nothing. So, just focus your energy on that, Rick. Not on the past. Not on what's already happened. Focus on both of us getting back home. Focus on getting to meet your son. He's gonna love you."

Tears welled in Rick's eyes at Michonne's comforting words. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers before resting his forehead against hers.

"I love him already," said Rick as he cradled Michonne's head in his hand. "I loved him as soon as you told me about him. I loved him in my dreams before I even knew who he was. And I love you, Michonne. Thank you for comin' for me. Thank you for takin' care of our family and community. Thank you for lookin' after Judith and bein' there for her when I couldn't. For bein' both parents for her. And thank you for blessing me with R.J."

Tears rolled down both Rick and Michonne's faces as they sat holding one another. A gentle beat of silence passed around them as they took in calming breaths. Michonne smiled once more; smaller and softer – the smiles she reserved for Rick.

"Thank you for not dying on me," said Michonne with a wet laugh which Rick returned.

They both pulled back and stared into one another's glistening, teary eyes.

Rick ran his thumb over Michonne's bottom lip and said, "Yeah well, we don't die. We're the ones who live."