"You take care of each other out there." Rick kissed Michonne possibly for the tenth time as Carl counted in his head.

"Dad," He deadpanned and loaded more supplies in the trunk of the car, "We've done this like a million times before."

"You got enough water in there?"

"Yeah, dad."

"All the food I packed for ya'll?"

"Yeah, all of it."

"How about-"

"Dad!" Carl was irritated now.

Rick was grumbling under his breath and Michonne shot him a look. The signal to just let it go. They butted heads often because in a way they were so different. Carl had a certain way of doing things and so did him. Both stubborn as mules.

The dark skinned beauty kissed Judith's cheek who was pouting as always when she figured her mother would leave, "Be a good girl for daddy."

"I dont wanna." She whined back.

"Judy," She reasoned with her daughter, "Remember what momma and daddy taught you about saying goodbyes?"

The girl recalled their talk and hugged Michonne's legs, "I love you momma. I will be a good girl for daddy."

Rick kissed top of his daughters head.

"Pinky promise?" She held out her pinky for the little girl.

She giggled softly and linked her own with her mothers, "Promise."

She exhaled and kissed the little girl on the cheek again, "I love you more than anything angel."

The emotions surprised her and she wiped her eyes. They had done this a million times like Carl had said, but it felt different saying goodbye to her family today.

"Baby,'" Rick drawled, worried, "You alright?"

She nodded and kissed him again, "I'll see you two tomorrow."

"Jeez,"Carl closed the trunk and waved to Michonne, "Can we get going or is this going to last another thirty minutes?"

"Carl." Rick snapped back, "Watch your mouth."

He rolled his eyes and sighed, "Sorry."

He walked up to Judith and kissed her cheek as a goodbye.

"If there is any trouble-"

"We will handle it." Carl cut his father off, "Like always."

Michonne patted him on the back, "Yeah, team Grimes."

"Team Grimes." Rick grinned.

"You guys are so cheesy- I can't." With that Carl walked off towards the car to escape and left them smiling there at each other.

Michonne hummed along 'stand by me' as Carl drove. Summer was beginning to fade away and make room for the Fall.

"You wanna head south this time?" He asked her.

"Sure, I'm leaving it up to you since you're driving." She smiled proudly at him.

He had learned to drive properly a few months ago. It had been the best solution since he wanted to visit Enid at the Hilltop most days. Of course driving came in handy more ways than that, but Michonne knew soon as he asked her to teach it was mostly because of his girlfriend.

"So tell me," She was curious, "What do you guys exactly do at the Hilltop?"

The tone of her voice was funny to him.

"We just chill out," He explained casually, "Sometimes we visit the Kingdom and see our friends. Nothing special really I guess, but it's nice."

"I'm happy you're happy."

Michonne understood what he meant. She kept humming along the song and looked outside the window.

Carl spoke suddenly, "Thank you."

She looked at him confused.

"You were the one who got through to dad when we came to Alexandria remember? You made him open his eyes and believe again."

"Carl..."

"No listen," He was adamant, "You lived by hope and that things would get better, even when it was all going to shit, you believed it. It used to be hard to believe, but now all of this is our reality. You pulled him back from that dark place so thay he could lead us back into the light."

She really was speechless. Michonne looked at him in awe. She wasn't sure how Rick, Carl and Judith had inspired so much faith in her, but somewhere along the line it happened. Mostly it was Carl in the beginning. She loved him even though love had broken her before. He felt like family before anybody else. He was truly her best friend.

"Mom," Carl reached out with his other hand to wipe the tears escaping her eyes, "Don't cry. Whats up with you? You've been crying out of nowhere for like the past week."

She stilled her breathing and took his hand, paused and thought of a better circumstance to tell him, but in truth between their family nothing was ever just normal.

"Carl, I'm pregnant."

He was stunned.

Shocked.

He had parked their car on the side of the road and they sat inside in silence.

She was anxiosly waiting for his reaction. It seemed like he needed a moment to take it in. He was totally at a loss.

"So you guys," Carl gathered his thoughts, "Did you plan this?"

"We talked about it," Michonne spoke softly, almost in a whisper, "We both wanted this. For a while it felt like it wouldn't happen, I got used to the idea and now all of a sudden..."

Carl thought about his real mother and the last moments he had with her. Memories of Lori in general were not strong anymore. The sound of her voice was quiter, her features were more blurry, but he still felt her. She had the perfect hug, once upon a time, he had a different person to go home to at the end of the day and that was her. Her comforting hug. Sometimes he thought about those perfect hugs and found himself sobbing because it felt like a lifetime ago.

Then he remembered her screams as the blade cut into her.

He remembered Judith crying and her last breath.

The memories swirled in his head and he had to step out of the car for air.

Michonne followed him, giving him a little space to catch his breath.

"You okay?" She asked concerned.

He shook his head, "I'm.. yeah."

"I know. I know you're scared. I am too believe me."

"I'm happy for you," He took a step closer and expressed his feeling, "I really am. It's just..I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I mean what if something goes wrong."

"Everything's going to be okay." Michonne assured him like she always assured him, "I know I can't promise that, but I know, I feel it."

Carl was still scared. He would be until the day she probably gave birth.

He hugged her and smiled, "No wonder dad was so sappy this morning. I'm surprised he managed to keep this a secret."

Michonne laughed and shook her head, "Actually, he doesn't know yet. That was just your dad being your dad."

"You told me first?" He asked, his shoulders sagging under the weight of guilt he felt when he realized how his first reaction might have seemed like he wasn't happy for them.

"I didn't plan it to be honest," Michonne felt the prickle of tears behind her eyelids. Squeezing her eyes shut, she willed them not to fall, "But it felt right to say it aloud to you because you are the reason why I am here. You saw me Carl before anybody else."

Carl smiled at her and felt a swell of pride in his chest, "I am really happy for you guys. I am happy for all of us. This is amazing."

Her heart melted at his words and she captured him in a hug.

They stayed there for awhile before returning into the car and continuing their drive.

"Dad is gonna freak out," Carl was over the moon, he could only imagine his reaction, "He is not gonna let you leave the house. "

A bubble of laughter escaped her, "I'm counting on you to back me up when he gets out of hand."

"Whatever happens I think we will make it. We will, remember?"

She placed her hand over her stomach where their unborn child lay, "We will."