AN**~~ I've been reading the reviews and cracking up! Pre-divorced took me out Fortylove! As I write I'm constantly thinking yall are gonna beat m with all this back and forth lmao Yeah, I went in thinking my usual slow burn then decided lets be messier than normal. So, I had to get that leg up there Deepee1p *wink*

But everything you guys are saying I'm thinking too. But I hope I'm doing it justice with every chapter I write. Yall know I love writing a sex scene, I say hold off for more chapters but the opportunities start to jump out at me and I give it. Cuz who's not giving in to these two? Yet, I always struggle with how far to take it so let me know. And I appreciate all the accolades *teary eyed*

Oh, and one question I keep getting asked is about Gleggie lol I like them, but I just think if Glenn wasn't so damned horny, they might've met other people. Let's explore that in fics.

~~10~~

It had been two days and Michonne found herself driving across town again. This time she knew her destination and it wasn't the same as her last reckless journey. She needed counsel and that's what she sought. Thoughts of what she'd done bombarded her. Resulting in two main responses. Yearning and guilt. Regret and remorse were the feelings expected but they had yet to rear their ugly heads. And she wondered if they would. That made her guilt expand because she should feel bad for what she'd done. Sleeping with-

Oh, no there was nothing slumber-like about what her and Rick had done. Fucking raw on the floor was what they'd done. Her walls clinched reenacting the work they'd committed on his-

She had to stop this.

Throughout her life, Michonne sometimes felt as though she was going along with preconceived obligations. But this time she broke away from that. She did something just for her. Something selfish. Something to satisfy her alone. And now that she let the cat metaphorically out of the bag, she was finding it hard to put it back in.

Without prompts of betrayal, it was difficult to set it to the side. Her body was reminded of fulfillment. The tension from holding everything up had eased. And with it down, it asked for things. Things she promised not to give into if it could only come from- him.

Doing something like this was not even on her radar. In fact, her marriage issues evolved into trust issues, making her suspicious in general. Her guard went up. Her sexual desires had all but dissipated. Seeking out another man was never an option. But now she was reactivated for satiation. Recalling the incident made her body miss the feeling of being touched even if roughly. But when she was honest, the most powerful yearnings arrived from when their last kiss resurfaced.

She should've denied him that kiss. What they had done before that was gruff and heady. The kiss was too overpowering. Too erotic. Her body continued to buzz back to life solely from it alone. It brought up feelings of wanting a soft place to land. Having someone to divulge her daily experiences with, instead of keeping them bottled up inside. Of being loved and caressed. And it made her wonder what the experience revisited, but with slow and sensual could be. Michonne was truly taken aback by this reaction arising from one time with a man she barely knew rather than with her own husband. She had to stop these wandering fantasies as soon as possible.

Pulling up down the block from the fire station, Michonne heard the reverse gear beeps echoing. She was happy to see the doors open as a red fire engine was being backed inside. They must've just returned from an emergency call that wasn't too serious. A few firefighters in varying degrees of dress stood around conversing. Some having pulled off the heavy protective gear they'd been wearing. The driver still in the cab and two firemen helped to direct him back up into the building's first floor garage.

Michonne looked around and eventually spotted Sasha exiting the station once the truck was inside. She must've gone in to store her equipment and came back out to animatedly chat with her co-workers. They jovially laughed at whatever joke was being told. They seemed to be enjoying the lively conversation and it made Michonne feel a bit guilty that she was about to interrupt. Guilt becoming a theme in her life as of late. One she didn't particularly revel in. Therefore, she came to speak to her best friend knowing that she was someone she could speak to without fear of judgement. Her advice would be straight from the hip and that's what she needed right now.

Prying herself out of the car to begin walking over, she dragged in a deep steadying breath. Her presence got the attention of the county workers, some of whom she met in the past. They notified Sasha of her arrival, and she turned around. Her face revealed surprised happiness but also confusion because this was quite unusual.

"Michonne? What are you doing here?"

Sasha grinned from uncertainty while walking to greet her partway. But even with the pleasant look on her face Michonne knew her best friend was on alert for whatever brought her across town at this time of day.

"Is everything okay? Is Andre-"

"Oh no, Andre is fine." Michonne offered an apologetic look after probably giving his play Aunt a startle.

"Then what's brought you all the way to the station." Sasha's frowned then whispered. "Did Mike do something?"

"No, not Mike." Michonne chewed her lip anxiously. "I need to talk to you about something."

Sasha was concerned but waited. "Okay."

But Michonne looked around as though someone was after her, making Sasha nervous also. "Girl, what is going on?"

Michonne leaned into whisper. "I need to talk to you about… Rick."

Sasha relaxed, smirking from smugness. "Oh, now you wanna talk about him. When I was asking before and you kept saying it was nothing."

"I know!"

Michonne tugged at her arm to move them to the side, further from the firefighters to make sure they weren't in earshot of anyone.

"I fucked him."

"What!?"

"Shhhhh."

"What?" Sasha whispered with bulged out eyes and a dropped jaw, making Michonne stare at her incredulously.

"You were encouraging me. Now, you are astonished."

"It's just- it's just so out of character for you."

"I know." Michonne groaned still in shock herself.

"How was it? I mean when?"

The two women almost laughed at the first question but that was the last thing Michonne needed to divulge. If she started talking about that aspect it would give her away. Question number two was safer.

"A couple days ago-"

"A couple days ago and you are just telling me?"

"I had to digest it on my own first."

"No, you are right. Tell me how."

"His girlfriend showed up at the shop to assuage her worries, it seems. To mark her territory. But what pissed me off was her acting as though she were better than me, after I told her there was nothing going on."

Sasha was seething as though it happened to her. Her reaction assured Michonne that she hadn't overreacted. Well at least with that part of her response.

"I needed to take a lap to cool off. Next thing I know, I'd raced across town and knocked on his door. You know to give him a piece of my mind."

"Yes, make him clean up the mess."

"Mike had a woman call my phone. But you've got one showing up at my place of business. And there's not even anything really going on between us."

"Exactly. Then how-"

"I was going off on him about what happened. And he's trying to apologize and explain. But-"

"But what? "Sasha was captivated. If she had a seat, she'd be on the edge of it.

"But he was fresh out of the shower. His hair was damp. He didn't have a shirt or shoes on. Girl… he had on grey sweatpants."

She watched understanding wash over her friend's face from her admittedly dreamy description. "Yeah. There was no way you were getting outta there untouched."

"It wasn't even him that initiated. It was me. I grabbed him." Michonne covered her mouth, and her eyes were wide open in shock from her own actions. Sasha just stared at her a little proud and a grin blossomed.

"I can't believe I actually did it! What was I thinking?" Michonne began to hyperventilate.

"Take a deep breath. In… and out." Sasha coached while demonstrating.

Once Michonne was calmer, her bestie walked her over to a little greenway down the street that was set up with benches for the community to enjoy. And they sat down allowing Michonne to begin in on the afterthoughts that plagued her.

"I have to tell Mike, right?"

"I guess." her friend unconvincingly stated, her lips twisting.

"It's about transparency. I can't have this looming over us if we are working on our marriage."

Sasha thought then shrugged. "What if you were due one."

"One what? Revenge fuck?"

"Well, yes."

"Sasha, I can't." Michonne sat back then abruptly up. "Can I?"

"You already did."

Michonne's mind raced. Was this just her subconscious desire to get back at her husband for his infidelity? To have an 'I got one over on you.' to make her feel better in remaining. She hadn't considered it before.

But just as quickly she discarded the idea. Leading up to it and all the while, she didn't even think of Mike. No, this was all about her satisfaction.

Sasha interrupted her thoughts. "This was a onetime thing?"

"Yeah. Yes, I told him. We agreed on it."

Sealed it with a scorning hot kiss. Michonne was getting sidetracked once again.

"Okay, then no need to bring it up. Unless you wanna go back for more?"

"Oh. Uh. Nope. No, definitely not." She waved her hands and shook her head for emphasis.

Sasha sat up straighter, trying to lock eyes with the woman that was avoiding meeting hers. "You wanna fuck him again, don't you?"

"Keep your voice down." Michonne chided, all a flutter even though no one was around to hear.

"I didn't even need to ask if it was good." Sasha smirked happy for her.

Meanwhile, Michonne attempted to ignore the sweet soreness from being fully rehashed. "I am married-"

"Separated."

"He has a girlfriend he moved here for."

Sasha shook her head back and forth not accepting the deflection. "That doesn't answer the question."

"It doesn't matter. We agreed."

"Okay. Then that's all it was. You've got it out of your system. Now you can move on."

Michonne knew her friend absolutely didn't believe her when she shrugged then casually fidgeted with the collar of her uniform shirt. But couldn't argue with her now. Not when she was probably lying to herself. Who was she kidding, she was absolutely lying to herself.

Her brain scrambled for a solution and the only logical one presented itself. With her stomach seizing from how much it hated the idea, she muttered. "I'll go cold turkey."

Sasha eyed her skeptically. "What does that mean exactly?"

"I won't see him."

"Didn't you tell me Andre is friends with his son now. How's that going to work?"

"Carl's mother will be my contact going forward. If need be… Mike can help."

Sasha shook her head side to side in disbelief but went along with it. "Okay."

Michonne sat up straighter, more determinedly. "I just need it to work long enough for me to get past this."

"And you think Rick is going to go along with this?"

Michonne had arrived without warning at her confidant's job with the full intention of spilling everything to her. But she was purposely omitting the last bit of conversation between her and Rick before she departed from his house. Michonne needed Sasha to help get her back on the rails. The short, disbelieving responses would only increase if she knew.

"In the long run, he'll probably want the same thing too. He got a… taste." and boy had he.

"And now he can move on."

"Okay."

"Why do you keep saying okay?"

"What else do you want me to say? You've got a plan and I wish you all the luck in sticking with it."

The women stared at one another, squinting in a standoff. Neither moving in a battle of determination that had their brows furrow until Michonne eventually broke, pouting in despair.

"This is a mess!"

"I know."

They anxiously laughed before Sasha pulled her friend into a hug. She tenderly rubbed at her back to comfort her. She knew this circumstance was way out of Michonne's depths. But besides her being stressed out by the situation, she noted how much lighter she appeared. A little bit of weight against all odds was lifted. Whatever the connection her friend had with this man, it provided her with something for her own. Something that didn't require deep thought and preparation. And for that she was thankful to Rick. Sure, wondering about the ramifications was driving Michonne crazy now. But she was confident in her judgement. She would find a way to her true happiness. No matter where it may lay and what tough decisions had to be made to get there.

"You will get through this. And I'm here for you in any way you need."

"Really?"

"Yes. Even if it all goes to shit."

The pair chuckled again recognizing the hidden yet true tension. The worry that this could potentially blow everything up. Sasha would assist along the journey knowing it would end the way it was meant to.

"You can even put me down to handle some child exchanges. I will step up because, I'm a good Auntie."

Michonne snorted out a laugh as they separated, and Sasha joined her in laughter too.

After signing the visitors' log at the security desk, Rick was directed down the hall to the principal's office. The impact of his boots clicked on the tiles as he stomped to the main office of the elementary school. Behind the desk in the outer office, sat a group of secretaries. One of whom asked his name then sent him in the adjoining room, where his arrival was awaited.

Inside the office, he first noticed Carl in a seat in front of a large desk, his clothes and hair tousled. A gap lay between the other chair that to Rick's astonishment, Ron sat in. His clothing and hair equally mushed. Behind the boy stood Jessie glancing apologetically once he entered. Rick huffed from frustration at the many predicaments this presented.

He'd been called while at work and told that his son had been in an altercation. The staff needed him to come in immediately and that the other child's parent was being called in as well. Rick would've liked to say he was completely surprised, but he wasn't. After the showdown at the dining room table, he should've known something like this was bound to happen. Jessie looked at him nervously knowing this countered the direction he'd hoped things would move in. All the while, Carl kept his eyes straight ahead. No doubt worried as to what his father's reaction would be.

"Mr. Grimes, I'm sure you remember me, Principal Rose- Sutton. I recall meeting you when you came to enroll your son. That day you assured me that Carl would be a good addition to our school."

"I was right then, and I still am now. I don't know what if anything was explained to you prior to my arrival."

"Only that Carl didn't like something this young man, Ron said therefore he punched him. Starting the altercation, where they rolled around in the cafeteria until teachers aides had to pull them apart."

"Is that true?" Rick gave his son a stern look letting him know he meant business.

Carl shook his head in response to his father's question, making him seethe with displeasure. He hadn't taught him to solve his problems with his fists unless it was necessary to keep himself safe.

"Dad, I can explain. Ron and Mikey were both being mean this morning during lineup. Like always. They shoved me, knocking my books out of my hand. At lunch, they threw an orange at me."

Jessie gasped. "Ron!"

He didn't immediately respond to his mother. His arms still crossed over his chest, sulking before he finally spoke.

"He made fun of your cooking at dinner and got away with it."

"No, Carl apologized to me."

"But still. Your food may not be great, but at least I have a mom to cook for me every day."

Everyone's jaw dropped and Rick was about to say something having had enough of the child's nasty comments, but the principal intervened.

"Wait, you all know each other outside of school?"

Jessie eagerly stepped close to Rick, placing a hand on his tensed chest. "Yes, Mr. Grimes and I are a couple. Blending families has been a bit more complicated than we thought it would be."

Mrs. Rose- Sutton sat back in her seat. "That puts a different spin on it."

"How so?" Rick didn't understand where the principal was going with this.

"This was more of a familial spat."

"That's right." Jessie was quick to agree clearly wanting to sweep this under the rug, but Rick didn't.

"No, there's more to it. Ron and his friends have been picking on Carl for a while now. I hoped it would die down, but it hasn't."

Jessie looked at him as though he'd betrayed her. And of course, he had. But not in regard to this situation. He needed to remain on this issue, and he pressed on because this wasn't about her.

"There needs to be some intervention to put an end to this."

"Mr. Grimes, wouldn't you like to handle that outside of the school?"

"No, no, I would not. I want this down on the record."

"That would go on Carl's also."

"So be it. Because he won't have another incident like this ever again. Isn't that right, Carl?"

The boy jumped to attention from his slump in the seat. He realized his father was using tough love on him but at the same time getting him help in managing this situation. "Yes, it won't happen again."

The principal looked to be mulling things over in her head before she pulled out some paperwork from a filing cabinet. As she went on to speak, she wrote the details down of what her decision would be.

"Suspension would be the normal course of action. But in light of the circumstance, I think you two and Mikey will do well to remember you are the seniors at this school. And with that comes a level of responsibility. For the next week, instead of your normal lunch period, you will help with the first graders for their lunch period."

Ron puffed out in exasperation making the authority figure lock in on him directly. "I will also be having a discussion with Mikey's father. And the two of you will each write me a report on the importance of being anti-bully."

Then she addressed Rick and Jessie. "I will have all three boys visit the guidance counselor for peer mediation. Their willingness to cooperate will determine the length of time they attend."

She finished filling out the paperwork and handed one to each adult before her. "And if an altercation like this occurs again, a five-day suspension with be doled out."

Everyone nodded in understanding, thankful for the lighter sentencing knowing the standard could've put graduation in jeopardy.

"I think you should take Carl and Ron home. They probably need to cool off after today's events."

"Can I take Sam home too?" Jessie skittishly asked as though she'd just been scolded.

"Yes, I'll have my secretary call up to his teacher and have him sent down."

The principal stood and came from behind her desk, extending her hand. "I wish I could say it was good to see you both, but under these circumstances…"

The woman trailed off as she shook both parents' hands before walking the whole group out of her office. She asked that Sam be sent down and returned to whatever task that was disrupted by this kerfuffle. Afterwards, the two adults and two children began down the hall for the front entrance, where Sam was told to meet them.

An uncomfortable silence joined them. It nearly mimicked the one that Rick had enacted since Michonne showed up at his door. His and Jessie's texts became short and simple. He knew his reasons but wasn't quite sure what hers were. Perhaps nervous about what his reaction would be. But Rick didn't care to get into a discussion about it yet, because he was still working it all out himself. Unfortunately for him, the skirmish their sons had forced them together before he knew what to do.

In the main lobby, there were large windows with cushioned benches. Ron and Carl sat on ones on opposite ends like boxers in opposing rings. But Jessie stayed close, obviously wanting to talk with Rick. She anxiously motioned to get him to step into the vestibule for some privacy and he reluctantly obliged.

"I'm going to drop the boy's home then come by your place so we can talk."

Rick shook his head negatively. "I've gotta get back to the site. The team needs my direction on the project today."

He could've left it at that but Jessie's desire to have the principal sweep this under the rug nagged at him. "Besides don't you think you have bigger fish to fry?"

"What? They are just boys involved with teasing and rough housing. They will figure out how to get along."

"No. Ron needs to talk to someone. Sam too."

Jessie clutched her chest, offended. "You already have one of my sons signed up for mediation. And now you think the other one needs it too?"

Rick glared, annoyed by her willful ignorance then muttered lowly not wanting his voice to echo. "Counseling, yes. You can't tell me you don't see it. They saw all the turmoil between you and Pete. You think that just goes because you will it away."

"No, but-"

"I regret that Carl has his own issues to deal with from the conflict between Lori and me. But still I asked him to make an effort with this whole thing for me. It hasn't been fair to him."

"Thing?" the weepy look on her face made Rick exhale.

"I didn't mean it that way. It's just that you knew Carl dealt with bullying. I wanted this to be better for him, not more of the same."

"Him and Ron are going to mediation now. That will help. It's not a lot but its something."

"I'm honestly glad Carl has learned to stand up for himself. But what about the other kids Ron's bullying. What about how he treats Sam?"

Jessie dropped her head in despair, but Rick continued unfazed. "You need to deal with the absence of their father. It's affecting them both."

Jessie looked up, squinting her eyes defensively. "I don't want to tell them where he is."

"You have to tell them something. What about when he gets out?"

"The practice won't let him come back and he ruined his reputation. I honestly don't think he'll come back here. My father will make sure of it."

"Well, that's gonna be a problem. Your boys will need help moving past that either way. You need to think of them first."

Jessie could sense the shift in her boyfriend's demeanor. She stepped closer to him, lowering her voice to a whisper, her eyes pleading.

"I am. That's why I need you. I can't face this alone. My boys need you. They need a strong, dependable and caring man around to set a better example than their father did."

Rick pinched the bridge of his nose, frustrated that she was trying to put this off on him. But was also concerned for her sons. He hadn't formed the best relationship with them, but he cared because they deserved better. Jessie took his pause as her moment to persuade.

"You know I only married Pete because my father told me a doctor wasn't someone I could pass up on. I was trapped. Him having a nervous breakdown was my way out."

One of the doors to the school building opened, shining sunlight in as a staff member entered. She greeted them as she made her way up the stairs past to enter the lobby. Rick turned to Jessie needing to stick a pin in this.

"We shouldn't be having this conversation here. We both need to get back to work. Let's see if Sam is here yet."

Jessie was sullen but followed his stomps back into the lobby where they found that Sam had indeed arrived. He sat next to Carl, chatted and they both genuinely smiled. Their parents called them over and departed the school, heading for the parking lot.

When Rick arrived earlier, he was flustered but now he realized that he and Jessie were parked on opposite sides of the lot. A small gravel patch sat in between the distance. Carl silently took the key fob from his father's hand and went to climb in their car, figuring his father would want to say goodbye to his girlfriend.

Jessie put her boys in her car as well and returned to Rick in the center. Her arms were crossed over her chest as though she was fighting off a chill, but she wore a pensive look. Rick huffed knowing she was not going to let whatever it was go.

"I'm trying to understand where all of this is coming from. Is this because… I went to the barbershop?" she studied his face.

Rick couldn't believe that was her concern after all they'd just spoken of. He realized the conversation she wanted to go back to his place to have had been this one.

"No. This isn't because of that."

Jessie was both bewildered and disappointed. "You knew?"

"Of course, I knew."

"Then why haven't you brought it up?"

One glaring reason came to mind but he didn't need to conjure that up. "Because I was still trying to understand why you would even do something like that. Say something like that. Pre engaged."

It came out as a curse word accompanied by a scoff making Jessie wince as though she'd been struck.

"We both said marriage was something we were looking for. And you haven't been the same lately. What am I supposed to think?"

Rick knew he was dead wrong because of what he'd done immediately after. Yet he still wondered what possessed Jessie to go visit the barbershop. Her worry regarding the stagnation of their relationship was valid, but she had no basis to put that off on Michonne.

What evidence did she have beside a friend seeing them in the ice cream parlor, which he easily explained. His omission of his barber being an attractive woman shouldn't have been enough to have his girlfriend crossing town to randomly seek her out. Rick was never one to toot his own horn but in the time that they had been dating, women had outright flirted with him. Jessie too had some occasions been asked out and they'd laugh them off, seeing it for what it was- nothing. Rick not batting an eyelash in those instances told him he had healed somewhat after experiencing betrayal from his wife.

But the more he thought about this, the less it made sense. The jump to react was strange and out of character. He was missing some detail that he just couldn't put his finger on. Although, he could be wrong. Perhaps some intuition let Jessie know the mysterious woman was a threat. And she was right. Because try as they may, he and Michonne had been drawn to one another. The distance they both attempted to maintain shattered before they could muster the strength to walk away.

Then Rick wondered if he was formulating all these suspicions to combat his guilt. He was normally a man of integrity, and it was getting harder to evade the disappointment of what he'd done. Confessing was his first instinct but, in its place, he fell back into old habits of avoidance. It was a one-time thing. Therefore, what purpose would be served beside hurting his girlfriend if he came clean. Instead, he busied himself with work to keep his conscience at bay. But without warning the memory would bring him satisfaction. Only expanding the guilt.

He was rightfully so plagued with numerous forms of guiltiness, but one was missing. Deep down, he knew he didn't regret being with Michonne. Obviously, he wished it happened under different circumstances. But he didn't wish it away. He had yearned for her, but the way they had gone about it was incorrect and impulsive.

Sex with Michonne was transcendent. Dare he say the best he'd ever had. Thoughts of the euphoria had his toes tingling still. It flooded his mind, taking him back to the brief conversation he had with her after.

He was slipping back into his pajama bottoms while she yanked her clothes back into place.

"I'll leave her."

Michonne peered at him stunned by his proclamation. "Don't."

"Why not?" he was slightly crestfallen but tried to disguise it.

"I don't want to be the reason anyone leaves someone."

"It wouldn't be like that." He tried to sway.

"It would. You'd be leaving just because of what we did. It's clouding your judgment, making you think you want to be with me. But it's only for right now."

"Right now?" he challenged, not wanting her to cast their experience aside so quickly.

"Lust can and usually is fleeting. Our emotions got the best of us. Maybe… we just needed to get this out of our systems. And we'll move on once the sex haze subsides."

"Michonne, I-"

She stopped him by pressing a calming hand to his chest when he advanced. Locking him in with her pretty brown eyes, conveying the sentiment in her upcoming question.

"If you hadn't met me, would you be considering breaking up with her?"

She had him there. Even with things not quite right, he still would've pushed through. It was his norm to stick it out. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Yet when he gazed in her eyes, it seemed that Michonne longed for him to say otherwise. But he couldn't… she was right.

"See."

She looked away with gloomy acceptance, picking up her discarded keys. Then headed to the door, grasping the knob. Her final statement before she departed out the front door was what stung the most.

"Besides, I'm still married."

"Rick."

Jessie pulled him back to the here and now, searching his expression for clues. "Where did you just go?"

"I- Jessie..." Rick looked in the distance, unsure what to admit now with that conversation refreshed in his head.

"Then tell me what I was supposed to think."

"Maybe that we've been seeing each other from the distance of a couple counties. That it will take time to sync up with us near and consistently around one another."

"We could've done that easier had you only moved into my house."

Rick stared at her dumbfoundedly because she knew why he'd had reservations about that. "After I fought with Lori to be granted majority custody of Carl, I was ready to come here. I thought it would be good for my son to be a part of a family unit after all the strife he witnessed-"

He adjusted his stance from irritation to keep his voice from rising. "You told me not to come."

"I- I couldn't right then." Jessie looked regretful but Rick also picked up on a little… shame.

He tried to unearth what that was about. "You never explained why you changed your mind so suddenly."

"Rick, I-"

The chiming tone of his cellphone cut them short, alerting Rick to an incoming text. He pulled out his phone and checked to see it was from Morgan. He asked when he would return to the construction site because the concrete pourers had arrived. Jessie, not so patiently, waited while he quickly responded informing him that he'd be there soon. His intention to have Carl hangout in his trailer while he finished up the day. But to get back he had to close out this discussion.

"Look, it's fine. It threw me for a loop at first. I was a little hurt and frustrated but then I thought about it. I was already moving Carl away from his mother. Dropping him into a readymade family wasn't gonna help matters. Your boys needed to get used to the idea of it also. A man they hadn't bonded enough with moving in. And all after their father up and went away with no real explanation."

"But-" she tried to break in, but Rick needed to say his piece without her trying to sway him.

"With what happened today, we see how us all under one roof would've turned out. I think until we figure out what's going on with us, we should leave the kids out of it."

Jessie finally nodded sorrowfully. "I- I understand. Let's work on us."

She stepped forward, placing a quick kiss to Rick's lips because she didn't want them to separate this way. But when Rick didn't apply any pressure back towards her, she stepped back to eye him nervously.

"Jessie… maybe we should take a beat to figure out what we really want."

"I know what I want. I want you."

"Look…" Rick was struggling because the look in her eyes was the same as when she'd come to him heartbroken over Pete. He didn't want to be the cause of pain for her. And he knew the kids had to be watching so he decided to compromise.

"…maybe we could go back to basics."

There was a tremor in her voice when she replied. "Like dating?"

Rick shrugged unsure of what he actually meant but Jessie leapt in contented that he wasn't ending it right there.

"Okay. Okay, we can go back to dating. It will help us find that spark again." She optimistically reasoned. "Right?"

"We can see." was the best he could provide.

"Look, I've gotta get back to the site. I'll give you a call later."

Rick leaned in to place a chaste kiss on Jessie's cheek which she desperately welcomed. Then she reluctantly started for her car and Rick headed for his. But something dawned on him as he walked, prompting him to turn back.

"By the way. How did you know where to find the barbershop?"

Jessie stopped short and hesitated while turning to face him. "You said it was on the Southside. I used a search engine to find it." she stuttered.

Rick nodded at her answer allowing her to proceed the rest of the way to her vehicle. Yet he for some reason was unconvinced by her answer. But Carl and work awaited, and he continued on his way.