Authors note: Sorry that this is late! I was out of town last week But I will have another chapter up again by tomorrow to make up for it. Hope you enjoy! After this chapter things are about to get BUMPY for the Grimes Family. But Thanks for reading! XXXX

Judith saw them the moment she entered the Commonwealth High School lunchroom.

They were all sitting at a table in what everyone called the 'jock section', where all the popular kinds hung out. Who knew? Even in an apocalypse cliques were a thing.

Uggh.

She spotted Gracie first, her bestie. With her signature dark blonde, beach wave hair, her blue eyes seemingly sparkled as she giggled up at the gigantor sitting beside her with an arm draped across her shoulders.

Kaede.

That was his name…the boyfriend. He was a senior and hard to miss. With his chiseled features, his brute size, porcelain skin, dark eyes and a shock of longish spiked hair. He was talking loudly and laughing as he popped a fry into his mouth, with the kind of obnoxious laugh that told her he knew loved the attention.

Judith rolled her eyes and breathed in deep and out her nose. She tried to look away and failed, turning back to ogle the group as she moved toward the lunch line.

Their table was comprised of four other kids. There was Kaede of course, and the three next to him were Kaede's friends. Judith didn't know them, know them, but it was a small school and she had seen them around enough. The first one was a tall muscle-bound kid with deep russet skin and a close-cropped fade, who was being equally obnoxious with his food.

Judith sighed. I mean, who talks with a mouth full of food?

Then there was the shorter gangly one with a slight tan and wavy brown hair and the beady eyes. The third kid was the quiet one, the one with the thick mass of light brown-blonde curly hair. She knew this kid, had seen him before. The quiet one with the nice eyes.

Rounding out the table was the very last person Judith wanted to see ever, Smrita Singh. With her deep olive skin and her luscious jet-black hair with the edgy purple highlights, Smrita was a pretty but very spoiled brat who let everyone and know her dad big wig at the Commonwealth guard. And more importantly, she was a royal pain in Judith's ass.

Judith finally looked managed to look away and walked further into the lunchroom, opting to skip the hot lunch and instead grab a quick ham and cheese sandwich. She had homework to finish and a meeting with her Bio/Chem teacher. And she really wasn't sure if she was ready to run into Gracie and her new crew.

"Hey Jude, hold up!"

Oh no!

Judith looked up again.

Gracie was starting towards her as the rest of the table looked on.

Part of her wanted to keep walking. She hadn't talked to Gracie in days, and she was still hurt. But instead, she stayed put and tried to stay calm. Maybe try talking to her and telling her how you feel her mom had said.

They had been at the lake, lounging under the sun as in the distance they watched her dad teach RJ how to cast a fishing rod again. She especially loved those times; quiet moments with just her and her mom.

"So, do you want to talk about what's really going on with you… and Gracie?" Her mom had been stroking her hair back, where she lay resting on her mother's lap reading a book. Judith had sighed knowing she could never keep anything from her. She sat up.

"...Just so you know mom, I'm not having sex" She grumbled. "RJ shouldn't have said that." She watched her mom smile and swore she looked relieved.

"You're right, that wasn't his to share. Your Dad and I talked to him about boundaries and respecting your privacy. You know he didn't mean anything by it. He adores you and just wanted to be included. It doesn't make it right, but he wasn't trying to be hurtful."

Judith harumphed. She knew her mom was right, but RJ could be such a pain! For a moment she nibbled at her fingernails as she stared watched the Dragonfly's flitting over the water.

"Gracie and I had a fight." She said suddenly. In turn her mom arched an eyebrow.

"A fight? About?"

Judith sighed. "Gracie's been hanging out with some new friends. Seniors…kids from the Commonwealth. I think she likes one of the guys. "

"Is that a problem?" Her mom eyed her and Judith shrugged and finally spoke after a beat of silence.

"No... I mean I dunno…she told me I didn't get it when I asked her about it." Judith hunched her shoulders. "I dunno mom. We used to do a lot of things together. The science fair, Yearbook, Bio/chem club, Math lab. Volunteering. She would come over and bake with us all the time. Now all she wants to do is talk about fashion and parties and yeah boys. She even wants us to join some social club at the Y…"

"And you don't want to?" Her mom offered. Judith bit at her fingernails again.

"I dunno. It's just…She's just being different. Hanging out with these new kids. Popular kids..." Judith didn't want to sound bitter but she knew she wasn't one of those kids, which was plenty fine with her. She liked her life. Loved to learn and explore and build. Her mom had taught her that, to think for herself and figure out differing ways of doing things and building for tomorrow. She preferred that t being one of the 'cool kids' at the Commonwealth highschool.

"Hey!" Her mom's tone brought their gazes together. "Stop that. There's nothing wrong with you. You're my strong and smart, beautiful, perfect daughter who marches to her own beat. You care about people and the world, and I couldn't be prouder of the young lady you are becoming. Those popular kids would be lucky to have you." Her mom pulled her close and kissed her forehead and hugged in that way that filled her with nothing but warmth and love and sureness. "But baby girl, maybe this thing with Gracie isn't that simple?"

Judith frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Jude, baby, the science fair, Yearbook club…the baking…those are all YOUR things. You love all of that. Gracie and you have been friends since you were babies and for as long as I can remember she has always been your best friend. She has been supportive of your interests and has always been there for you. But baby girl, you're growing up. And sometimes growing up means different paths, different interests. Maybe try talking to her and telling her how you feel. Growing up, different paths, doesn't mean you can't still support each other. Talk to her. Maybe she just needs you to try and be there for what she likes this time."

Her mom's words echoed in the present as she turned to follow her friend's voice.

Gracie practically ran up to her, her dark blonde tresses bouncing as she caught up to her.

"Hey," Gracie offered breathlessly…cautiously.

"Hey." Judith offered back, as she balanced the textbooks in her hands. The silence stretched and she was conscious of the leers from Gracie's new friends. After a moment, Judith was getting ready to put her big girl pants on and break the silence when Gracie practically spat her next words out.

"Hey…umm. I just wanted to say I'm sorry I lied before. I should have come right out and told you I was hanging with Kaede…it was stupid and I'm sorry…" Her words came out fast and Judith could tell she was nervous. And realized she was nervous too. Maybe try talking to her and telling her how you feel.

Judith blew out a deep breath.

"Gracie, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said what I said, about you…and Kaede." Calling Gracie's crush and overgrown oaf hadn't been her finest moment. "And you're not a follower. I think I was just…sad. You're my best friend but suddenly you have this new guy and these new friends…" Things were changing, and she didn't like it. But her mom was right. Gracie had always been in her corner and supported her. The least she could do was be there for her in the same way she had been there for her. "I was stupid and childish. You're allowed to like and do your own thing. Friends?"

In response Gracie just nodded and from here Judith could see the sheen of tears form in her friend's big eyes. Then she did the most Gracie thing she could do and practically do and jumped on Judith, to wrap her in a tight hug. Judith couldn't help but chuckle, even as she almost lost her balance.

"Thank God for that! I hated fighting with my bestie." Judith giggled.

"I hated fighting with you too."

"This mean you two weirdos are back to being friends again?" Smrita's nasally voice worked like a charm to kill the moment where she appeared next to Gracie, rolling her eyes as she played with a lock of her gorgeous hair.

"Yes! The besties are back!" Gracie beamed. "Jude, come eat lunch with us, please. You can meet the guys." Judith chanced a glance back at the table, to the guys who were watching their exchange intently. Kaede's onyx gaze pinned her in place as he eyed them with a stupid smirk on his face.

"Can't." Judith answered.

"Lame." Smrita offered snidely. Judith chose to ignore her as she continued.

"I have go meet Mr. Sonemann." Mr. Sonemann was their Bio/Chem teacher. And her favorite teacher ever. He had worked with Judith and the Garden Preservation Society to organize a field trip to the Commonwealth Botanical gardens. Something near and dear to both Mr. Sonemann and Judith. "A living, breathing testament to conservation, restoration and research especially now." is what Mr. Sonemann had called it. Exactly what they needed to continue to build for the future. "I promised I would help set up for tomorrow's field trip."

"Uggh. Double lame." This time Judith glared at Smrita, until the other girl's gaze skittered away.

"You should come hang out tonight then!" Gracie clapped, her eyes moving to Smrita for her acquiescence.

Smrita rolled her eyes again. "Sure…I guess she can come to my bonfire tonight." She sounded like she was doing Judith some sort of huge favor as she muttered the words. Judith frowned.

"What bonfire?"

"At Srita's house. Oh you have to come! It will be fun, and it will give you a chance to get to know the guys. Please. Please. PU-LEASE…" Gracie slapped her hands together again in a pleading manner. Judith sighed. Her mom was right, Gracie had been a good friend to her and at the very least she could do the same.

"Umm…I would need to check with my parents first."

Gracie squealed in response and gave her another hug.

"Yay besties! Your parents are super cool. Of course they'll say yes! I can find us some outfits and pick you up. This is gonna be great!" Gracie grinned and Smrita gave Judith yet another eye roll.

"Starts at 7. Don't be late. Oh and Grimes, try not to look like you just rolled around in the dirt tonight and do something with that-that…hair." She flayed her hands around in the air before walking away. Judith scowled behind her back and playfully made a fist while Gracie stifled a giggle.

"Don't mind her," she whispered. "I can't wait for you to get to know the guys." Gracie looped her arm in Judith's as they walked together to the lunch line.

Behind them on the other end of the lunch room, brown eyes followed the teenage girls as they blonde chatted excitedly as the Brunette listened on and smiled, watching and waiting.

She's coming tonight.

Brown eyes smiled and watched some more. Knowing he could wait some more, to get to the great Rick Grimes.

"Bye Mrs. G!"

"Thanks Mrs. G."

""Have a good day Mrs. G."

Michonne waved as the last of her students exited out of the classroom. Today had been a good day. Who would have thought her, Michonne Hawthorne, former cutthroat in-demand defense lawyer, would be teaching Civics and Government classes at the Commonwealth Community college. Michonne smiled as she packed up the rest of her students essays in readiness for her next class. Her life as a lawyer felt like lifetimes ago. All of it did. It still astonished her, that after all this time, after the fall, after losing Andre, losing Carl, losing Rick and finding him again; that life could feel this…normal. That she could carve this small piece of peace for herself with a family of her own was everything.

"Wow!" Michonne looked up to see one of the college deans, Anais Webber, stroll into her classroom. Anais was around Michonne's age, tall and svelte with a stylish light golden Blonde bob that swayed as she strutted. The woman was always put together, what with her with a full face of makeup, bright red lipstick, and her too tight pencil skirts ad ridiculous stiletto heels. In a way that told Michonne Anais Webber had never been out there, not in the way her and her people had been. Much like Alexandria, the Commonwealth was filled with them; citizens who had been shielded from the very beginning, protected by walls and soldiers. People who were now working to bring back some semblance of civilization to the world. Which made Anais mostly ok in her book, even if she could be a little annoying.

"My students are never that happy after one of my classes." She continued as she waltzed up to Michonne's desk.

"They're smart kids, and they love to debate each other. The key is to give them a topic and let them have it. They love to debate each other."

'So I hear. I can hear their excitement all the way to my office." She smiled. "You know, you could pick up more classes. Maybe some evening classes, you're a fan favorite around here." And there it was. Anais wouldn't be Anais if she wasn't asking for something.

"Like I said before, I'm good. I appreciate the offer Anais, but I like my schedule as is. I like being there when my kids get home."

"Mmm, and that husband of yours…Rick? Heard a lot about him, from before…" Michonne stilled where she had been shuffling essay papers at the mention of her husband. But Anais just continued on, oblivious to the death stare Michonne was suddenly shooting her way as she strolled about Michonne's desk tinkering with items on her desk.

"You know, I hear rumors about him." She cooed dreamily. "Some of the folks from your old stomping grounds, boy do they talk. That man of yours is something else. Is it true-"

"Anais." Michonne's voice was clear, concise and commanding when she said her name. And loud enough to startle the other woman into silence and train her gaze instantly on Michonne. " .not talking to you about my husband." Her authoritative words and steel gaze bore into other woman until Anais visibly reddened and shirked away with a nervous laugh.

"Oh girl, I didn't mean anything by-…well, I just stopped by to say keep up the good work. And I know you said you weren't interested in more hours, but Khalil is still out and I need someone for her class tomorrow and-"

"Can't. My daughter asked me to help with a field trip at the school tomorrow." This time Michonne didn't even bother with a smile. This woman needed to get gone before she showed her the real Michonne, not this laid back, fun college professor version but the one that didn't fuck around when it came to her family. Michonne watched the other woman closely and could swear she see her wheels spinning. If she mentions Rick one more time…

"Rick! Your ears must be ringing!"

She followed Anais' gaze.

Michonne's attention had been so laser focused on the dean that she hadn't noticed the break in the students milling about outside her door. Not until he was standing at her door.

Rick.

Michonne sighed like a lovesick little girl at the vision.

Man, her husband was a site for sore eyes, and took her breath away every single damn time.

And today he looked especially fine, in his Commonwealth Peace officer uniform.

The grey button-down shirt, navy tie and matching navy commonwealth issue trousers, and his cowboy boots, all fitted to perfection. Combined with a standard issue navy Commonwealth Peace Officer bomber jacket and the a shiny gold officer badge latched to the gun belt at his hips. And to top it all off he was standing there with a To-Go bag from her favorite Chinese spot.

Michonne licked her lips as she locked gazes with her husband and felt the warmth spread everywhere throughout her body. Rick saw it too, and grinned that ridiculous handsome grin of his.

"Dean Anais." Rick's deep raspy voice seemed to fill the room as he acknowledged the Dean. But those deep blue eyes didn't leave Michonne. In her periphery Michonne could see where Anais' gaze darted between her and Rick and the silence stretched on and on. But Michonne couldn't care less. They might as well have been the only two people in the room from the way this man was holding her in place with those sexy crystal blue eyes of his.

Anais seemed to finally get the message as she cleared her throat and straightened her hands over her skirt.

"Well, I should leave you two to your lunch. Great work Michonne, as you were." Was the last thing she said as she sauntered towards the door. Michonne watched as Rick took a single sideways step from the door, offering her a wide berth and a parting nod. He waited until the door was closed behind her before he spoke.

"What the hell did I jus' walk into?"

"What the hell did I jus' walk into?"

"Nothing for you to worry about."

Michonne dismissed as she walked around her desk to meet Rick halfway. "I'm more concerned with what is in those boxes, officer." Rick's smirk was instantaneous as his eyes darted from the bag and back to her. Then he was deftly placing the To-Go bag on her desk and taking a step closer to her.

Michonne tried to hide her smile as Rick brought his right arm around her, pulling her to him so that suddenly they were nose to nose. She gasped as she felt the hard plains of his body press against her softness, holding her there. That familiar spark of desire was instantaneous and mirrored in his eyes. Turning them a deep cobalt blue as he sank his teeth into his bottom lip and held her gaze.

"Well, I was thankin'...with how busy things have been...with work, 'n the kids…'RJ starting little league, 'n me coaching. Judith and her driving lessons. Then you have this field trip tomorrow. And thought it might be nice to take a break and bring my wife some Kung Pao chicken and dumplings." Mmmm my favorite. This time Michonne grinned from ear to ear.

"Well, this wife thanks you, officer." Rick's eyes followed her movements as she licked her lips again.

"You never have to thank me ever, Mrs. Grimes." Rick's lips were on hers before she could blink, giving her what she wanted from the moment he entered her classroom. His mouth was intoxicatingly familiar as they closed their eyes and his lips parted hers and his tongue snaked into her mouth. Michonne moaned and pressed her softness harder against her husband, grabbing at his wide shoulders to hold him there as his tongue tasted every inch of her mouth. And just like that she felt her already simmering body temperature rise, forcing a flood of heat down her body to make her pussy leak.

A whimper escaped her mouth when Rick's tongue found hers and she raised her hands to thread her fingers through the soft tufts of hair at the nape of his neck and felt him grow instantly hard where he rested at the apex between her legs.

Rick broke the kiss, taking a half step back to rest his forehead against hers, while keep her in place with his hands on her hips.

For a second they just stood there, eyes closed as their labored breaths filled the empty classroom.

"Babe." Michonne's whisper was a mixture of surprise and pleading as she held him.

"I know." Rick growled.

They stood there a beat longer, and Michonne was sure she could have stayed there forever. Breathing in his heady scent; a rich woody fragrance with notes of apple and black currant and something sexy and unique to her husband. Feeling the gush between her legs where he had been pressed against her sex. Thank God she was wearing jeans today, a small but effective extra layer of protection against her body's automatic response to this man.

A second later it was Rick who moved to brush his lips against her forehead. Then he was reaching for her hand and took another step back. What the…?

Michonne's eyes narrowed on him disapprovingly, not ready to end the moment just yet. Rick actually chuckled.

"C'mon Mrs. Grimes, let's eat."

Minutes later Michonne could still feel her body humming, but she was more in control of her wild ass libido, but not by very much. It was always like this with Rick. From the first time he had kissed her on that couch in Alexandria. His touch, his mouth, his tongue was like a match to kindling for her body.

Even in her own damn classroom!

Even now, with her sitting on her desk and Rick standing there, firmly lodged in the space between her legs, purposefully brushing against each other as they ate, she could feel her heart race as the heat of desire thrummed through her body.

Rick had removed his jacket, and flipped his necktie over his shoulder as they talked about their day and the kids, and he fumbled around his chopsticks and she chuckled and fed her from his carton.

"So…I talked to Aaron." She said as she picked at Rick's Sesame chicken. Even after her time away Aaron was still one of her closest friends, and worked nearby at the Visitor and Intake center. In front of her, Rick cocked a single eyebrow in question as he bit into the bite she fed him. "He says Gracie has a boyfriend." She finally added.

"A w-what?"

Michonne had to suppress a smile at the fact that Rick about chocked on his food and the mention of that word again. Michonne placed a hand on his arm to calm him.

"A boyfriend. He's a football player, a senior."

"A what!" Rick's body tensed. "A senior? Does Judith have a boyfriend? Is he a senior?" This time Michonne did smile.

"Baby, Judith doesn't have a boyfriend. She told me. Besides, if she did you would be the first to know. She tells you everything." Judith was such a Daddy's girl, and had Rick wrapped around her little finger from day one. Rick sighed and seemed to relax at Michonne's words.

"Is that why her Gracie aren't talking? Because of a boy?"

Michonne shook her head.

"Not really. I think Judith is having a hard time dealing with losing time with her friend. Gracie's spending more time with a new guy and Judith is hurt. It happens. If they can talk through it they will be fine."

"Good, good. But no boyfriend right?" Rick questioned and Michonne narrowed her eyes on him before she answered.

"No boyfriend. But baby she is sixteen. It's going to happen." She warned.

Rick scowled. "Not yet, not for a while if I can help it."

"Oh yeah Grimes? How old were you when you had your first kiss?" His resulting expression made Michonne chuckle as Rick touched the bridge of his nose and heaved a sigh.

"How people do this. Raising a teenage girl is gonna be the death of me." She reached into his chicken again as she spoke.

"Says her hero... She worships the ground you walk on. And apparently, you're a better driving instructor then I am.." That made Rick grin. That sexy shit-eating grin again as he ate the bite of food she offered.

"It's that light, gentle touch…that's the key." Oh really? Michonne smiled, even as she rolled her eyes at his playful smugness. And she felt what she always felt when she was with this man. Love, safety, and peace.

"What's that smile for?" The smile on Rick's face turned sensual as she stared into those eyes, making her breath catch for a second.

Michonne sighed. "I dunno," she smiled coyly. "This. You, us…who would have imagined that we would be sitting here like this. After everything, that this would be us?"

When she looked back up at him that same smile had transformed into something more intense as he set their near empty cartons aside to and placed a hand on either side of her torso to pull her closer to him and cage her in. Rick lowered his head so that he was looking right into her eyes. So close she could see the flecks of gold and brown as his eyes held hers.

"'Chonne, this is us. You, me, the kids. This is our life. It's all that matters and I'm never letting any of it go."

Michonne sighed. "Is that why you won't talk about what Ezekiel wanted?"

"Is that why you won't talk about what Ezekiel wanted?"

Michonne said the words before she could stop herself and watched Rick tense and his eyes turn into a storm cloud blue as he leaned away from her. The silence stretched and he just stared at her and for a moment she could've have kicked herself for bringing it up. But she also knew her husband and knew that sometimes she had to push him to face his own darkness.

Rick pushed up from the table then and she watched as he gathered up their empty boxes. It took everything in her to hold her tongue as she watched him crush the carton with his bionic hand and walked them to the trash can by her classroom door. Before he turned back to her.

" There's been some trouble. He wants me to help him figure it out…and join the CG." Michonne nodded her head slowly. Now it made sense.

"…Do you want to join the CG?" She asked hesitantly and Rick shook his head.

"I want you safe," Michonne watched him rub a hand to his brow again as he stared off in the distance for a second. "I want to be home. With you and the kids. I spent enough time fighting in other people's wars. When I should have been home protecting you."

Michonne frowned as she watched her husband walk toward her, his eyes not quite meeting hers. She heard his words, but something wasn't quite right. There was something else there. She started to get up.

"Rick-" There was suddenly a knock and her classroom door practically burst open as her Judith surged into the room.

"Judith!" She heaved a sigh of relief.

"Judith?" Steps from her Rick's hand hovered over the gun in his holster looking equally relieved. "Geez." He sighed as he hugged his daughter in relief.

"Mom? Dad, what are you doing here?" Michonne frowned at the nerve of her daughter to look confused as she walked up to her.

"Judith, what are you doing here? Don't you have class."

Judith shrugged. "umm…I had a free period and wanted to catch you before you're next class."

"What's wrong?" Rick said with a frown that mirrored Michonne's.

"Nothing. Nothing, I promise." She narrowed her eyes at he daughter. "I just wanted to see-see if I could go to…a party tonight? She mumbled the last words but Michonne heard them loud and clear. And so did Rick as they exchanged a confused look.

"A party?"

"What party?"

Michonne and Rick spoke simultaneously as Judith shuffled from one foot to the other.

"Smrita Singh is having a party." She muttered, which only made their frown's deepen.

"Singh…like Colonel Singh's daughter?" Michonne knew of the Colonel, he was pretty well known and high up with the Commonwealth Guard. Judith nodded, and Michonne couldn't tell if she was nervous or annoyed about that fact or both.

"Yeah. She invited me and Gracie to a bonfire at her house tonight. Smrita's mom will be there. I told them I had to check with you." Michonne shared another look with Rick and knew they were thinking the same thing. A bonfire? Gracie and her are friends again? "So…umm can I go?"

Judith eyed both her parents and Michonne caught the subtle way Rick quirked an eyebrow in her direction. They were partners and raised their children together. But in the moments where he was unsure, after missing so much time, Rick always deferred to her.

But this time Michonne felt her heartbeat race. Part of her wanted to say no. It was stupid. She had just been giving Rick grief about this. But in this moment she could admit that she struggled with this too, struggled with her babies being away from her after so much time apart. And now Judith was growing up and going to parties…

Rick's arm around her waist pulling her to him brought her back to the present and they shared a knowing look. She is sixteen. It's going to happen.

Then Rick was crouching down so that he was eye level with Judith.

"Judith, you remember the rules?" His voice was commanding, strong, as he spoke to their daughter. Judith nodded in turn.

"No drugs, no drinking. Sword or gun or both. Curfew is 9pm."

"And take you're radio." Michonne blurted. "And make good choices…don't let Smrita or anyone pressure you into do anything you're not comfortable with. You can call me or your Dad to come get you anytime." She knew she was rambling but she couldn't help herself as she hugged her daughter.

"Mom." Judith returned the hug even as she protested, her voice muffled in Michonne's chest. "I'll be careful, promise." On the other side of their daughter Rick's steel gaze held hers. She's tough like her mama. She has to grow up sometime.

Just then the radio at Rick's side crackled to life. Rick turned it up to listen. The sound of Jerry's voice wafted through the radio.

"Hey boss man, we got a 402 in progress North of the CBD. Dispatch is asking us to respond…over." Michonne tensed at the call. A '402' was a drunk and disorderly. Rick was a former sheriff and she knew her husband could handle those in his sleep. That didn't stop her from worrying.

"This is Grimes. Jerry, show us responding. I'll pick you up in five." Rick retrieved his jacket and turned to Judith. "C'mon party animal, I'll give you a ride back to school."

Rick placed a hand on Michonne's hip, leaning in to touch his lips to hers. His lips, were warm and soft and sweet as he claimed her mouth in a quick kiss. And as he started to pull back Michonne cupped the sides of his face.

"Thanks for lunch. And about the other thing…"

Rick smiled. "I know, we'll finish that conversation later." He touched his lips to hers once, twice more. Then he was gone as Judith offered a mom a quick wave.

Michonne watched her husband and teenage daughter walked out of her classroom just as her next students started to filter in. And in the hallway she could swear she caught a glimpse of Dean Anais watching Rick and Judith as they walked down the hall.