A/N: This is my first request in a very long time, so I got some wine, sat back and I had a great time listening to music while writing this story. Thank you, ChinaPia! I hope you like this too.

Rated: PG-13

Based on: Season 6 Episode 12 Not Tomorrow Yet (with what I wanted to happen in between)

Song: Paper Thin by Lianne La Havas

Paper-thin

God only knows the pain you're in

But the future's bright

You've got God on your side, He's listening

Love yourself

Or else you can't love no one else

I know your pain is real

But you won't let it heal

Paper-thin

If you're trying to lose, you'll never win

It's your life

But you're not the only one who's suffering

That's enough, I know you're made of better stuff, baby

You gotta roam free, please

Don't forget about me

Oh, give me the other key

Oh, your heart's wide open

There must be another key

Left your heart wide open

Just give me the other key

Your heart is an open door

So let me love you

I just wanna love you

Paper-thin

You understand the pain I'm in

Slipping in and out

Of such confidence

And overwhelming doubt

But if I love myself

I know I can't be no…

Michonne POV

We stared at each other in an odd way, as if it were a silent argument. Our glances battled each other until I could not stand it anymore, "You're not thinking this through, we cannot go in guns blazing, killing people while they sleep to form an alliance."

"I've already laid out the plan, we can't sit back and look intimidating and hope it works, Morgan hasn't got a clue, those people nearly killed Sasha, Abraham, and Daryl, and it would only be a matter of time before they find us. We're going in, ambushing them, and killing them all," There was a moment, just a fraction of a second when his face showed puzzlement, I raised my hand to steady his face, to make him look right at me.

"Rick…"

"Chonne," He leans in, so my forehead rest against him, "I negotiated the deal I have to see it through, I'd like for you to take a perimeter position keep watch." His heart shines through, the darkness of his emotions and his mind is powerful and it will devote itself to finding a way forward.

"Rick," I say barely more than a whisper, "This group uses murder and brutality to coerce other communities into providing a steady stream of food and goods, not to mention they have massive numbers, four outposts over three hundred members; We don't need to give them a justifiable reason to come after us." I close my eyes and so does he, both our breaths are shaking.

"We have the numbers now; all the communities have been under constant fear of that one group and they're joining us now. It's time to put a stop to them." The thought burned through his mind like an unstoppable fire, with no intention of stopping.

"I'm not saying we don't put a stop to them, I'm simply saying that we are setting ourselves up for severe retaliation," I stare deep into his stunning eyes, he's embracing the thought, so far, I feel no yielding.

"What do you suggest?" He replies hesitantly, his voice low and husky.

At that moment, everything seemed to be in a state of tranquility, he's relenting and I could finally take the deep breath I needed. "We find their leaders, the soldiers the ones calling the shots, capture them if we can. Anyone who can form an effective community of psychotic parasites needs to have all their rights revoked. The followers, the workers will dismantle and join other communities. We'll be on the defense, but we won't go in and just kill everyone, we'll show mercy."

"Hmmm," He licks his top lip and folds them to the bottom one, while gently caressing my face.

I gently lean in and kiss Rick's warm, inviting lips and he kisses me back. His kiss is like no other, his mouth tasted like the peppermint candy he took, cool and warm at the same time. I had become lost for a moment until the need to breathe and that action forced me into my senses, we pull apart and take shaky, shallow breaths.

"We'll meet with everyone again, make some revisions," he says with that sexy deep southern drawl. Soon as the last syllable escapes his lips, unable to contain himself anymore, we find ourselves interlocked in another fiery and passionate kiss.

"I'll make sure that we do," I say as I lie on my back, he matches my body's form, his hand's venture over my curved body, exploring.

"We'll do this your way, I promise," His voice wavers, exhilarated from the tension between us. Rick holds my head in his hands, my hands work their way around his body, feeling each crevasse, each line along with his perfect physique.

"I wouldn't be so adamant, if I didn't believe this is the better way," I whisper into his ear, lightly peppering his ear with kisses; his body shudders in response.

We pull apart and open our eyes, staring at each other, deep into each other's eyes. These talks are never easy, but I believe when you show a person a part of themselves, they've been suppressing or denying, they either have an emotional breakthrough or submit to their primitive anger response. One leads to good places, the other to bad places, but your role in both situations is identical.

"Thank you." Rick's eyes are full of wonder and love.

"For what?" Mine is full of curiosity and passion.

"For being you." Rick leans in and softly kisses up and down my neck. I let out little whimpers of anticipation. Rick works his way back to my lips. As we kiss, I roll him over and lie on top of his strong, muscular body, running my lips up to his neck and landing a loving and intense kiss on his tender, smooth lips.

The next morning, Rick, Glenn, Maggie, and Daryl strategize with Andy, a Hilltop scout. They plan on getting their weapons back in the building they believe to be the Savior's stronghold. The plan is to arrive at night, on the ruse that they are delivering Gregory's head to gain admittance to the building and seize the room they believe to be the armory. To facilitate this, Glenn and Heath kill some walkers, looking for a stand-in for Gregory's head.

Paul and Andy choose from among three heads, and after Rick breaks the nose of one Andy says that the Saviors are scary but they've got nothing on Rick. That is very true, but unlike the Saviors, Rick can behave like he's unhinged at times, but he kills to protect, to defend, not to intimidate, or assert dominance. I want to keep him that way, all of us, but especially him.

We arrive at the compound. Instantly taking notice of the two enormous radio dishes. Andy plays his role cowing to the two guards as he brings the head, and succeeds in fooling them. One of them is killed by Daryl and when the second returns with hostage Craig, I quickly take him out before he notices anything amiss.

Paul dons his mask and goes in, claiming they won't see him. He is the only one who can identify the leader Negan and is certain he can flush him out.

Operating in pairs, Rick and Daryl, Abraham and Sasha, Glenn and Heath, and Rosita and Aaron infiltrate the building. While Maggie and Carol, Tara and I are in reserve.

The pairs begin a systematic room-by-room search for the armory, Abraham quietly pries open a locked door and discovers a small marijuana grow-room.

Glenn and Heath find the armory and pick up assault rifles, Aaron forces another door open and finds a food and sundries supply closet.

We'd load our vehicles with the confiscated goods and just about cleaned them out with only a few losses.

Fate had another thing planned for us tonight. One of the patrolling soldiers had just finished his parameter check when he spotted us. Instead of engaging, he ran into the building to warn the others before any of us could capture him.

While Sasha and Abraham are occupied by another locked door, the soldier on patrol walks in on them and slices Abraham with a knife. Sasha stabs him but the man defiantly pulls a battery-operated alarm.

This awakens the sleeping residents and a battle ensues. Rick uses a suppressive fire from an assault rifle to kill three armed men descending a stairway.

Aaron kills another and is then saved by Rosita. A wounded man points a handgun at Glenn but is killed by the timely arrival of Paul.

Tara and I watch and allow the unarmed workers to flee. The soldiers come out firing right at us and we engage; fire with fire. Gunsmoke filled the air when the very air we breathe is pungent with the odor of the recently deceased and we are shocked at the carnage we've caused.

In unison, our heads turn at the familiar sound of a motor. A lone man comes out from behind the building on Daryl's stolen motorcycle. Daryl takes aim and shoots him with his crossbow, he's wounded but alive. Paul identifies the captured man…Negan.

A very tearful Maggie broke the devastating news. Carol refused her assignment on the main attack and insisted on staying with Maggie on the sidelines. Carol, being a protective friend did not feel a pregnant woman should be in the front lines. The two of them argued in a location that would have been a safe distance if not for their commotion. The two were ambushed, Maggie and Carol took defense, and shots were fired. Carol was fatally shot, while Maggie was able to duck into the brush and hide in the cover of darkness. She fires back and got a lucky shot, killing the woman who shot Carol. The other man got away, he was the one that slipped past us, setting off the alarm.

Although the loss of Carol is great, if we'd stuck to our original plan, I feel the outcome would have been worse. It would have transformed us in a way we'd never be able to reconcile. I believe with all my heart; we just changed our history and re-claimed our fate.

We part ways with half the supplies, most of the weapons and the prisoner. Paul, Glenn, and Andy return Craig to the Hilltop to keep their deal alive and make sure the Hilltop community isn't blamed for the attack.

We know that there are more Saviors out there. And we'll be ready, we've allied with the other communities so that none of the Savior soldiers tries to appoint himself as the replacement leader.

That night, Rick and our family had a somber dinner, we ate in silence, reflecting on what was lost and gained today. After the kids are asleep, we slip into our version of domestic bliss; and after a relaxing bath together, we retire to our bed.

Rick places a sweet kiss on my forehead, "I love you, Michonne.

"I love you too, Rick."

In the soft flickering candlelight, our cuddles are felt like a little touch of heaven, warm, together, cozy. I wish I could extend the night just so I could stay close to him longer.

"Darlin, you're the head and I'm the heart; but I've still got a head and you've still got a heart."

I try my best to contain it, but the laugh came from me like a newly sprung leak - timid at first, stopping and starting. God, Rick is so damn goofy sometimes; he knows I find that sexy as hell. He looks at me with that sexy smirk of his, clearly amused. Soon we are laughing together. We burst out laughing uncontrollably. Tears rolled down our faces and we laughed until our tummies hurt. His laughter was so free and pure, so innocent despite his adult years. It came to my ears as a tickle and bounce. It's true what they say, laughter is infectious. But you know what? I think love is too.

Eventually. The laughs subside and I'm able to speak.

"I am only a queen because you are my king; I am only a lioness because you are a lion. I can only truly be myself when you are truly yourself. We are soulmates, pure and simple, two halves that complete one other, perfectly complimenting, yet unique."

He only takes his finger and lifts my chin, so I meet his eyes, "Damn, darlin, there you go again, being amazing," Although his eyes were soft, the feelings behind them are strong and unyielding, unconditional compassion, like anything's possible.

He touches his forehead to mine, and I feel a warmth. One that I've never experienced before. It fills my body, from head to toe, invigorating me and filling me with a passion and hope that is powerful. He leans his head closer to me and his lips meet mine. Gentle but passionate, he presses his lips into mine. The world around me slowed, so I could be at this moment. My heart flutters, and I kiss back, cherishing the moment it's the moment when you suddenly become whole. Chaotic, lip biting, smiling in between make-out sessions and hot fervent sex.

Rick and I have had our disagreements before and usually at the end of the day we agree. Well besides the time I had to actually knock some sense into his head, but even then, he eventually agreed...This time was no different.