Author's Note: Had to write this due to my reaction during Season 3 Episode 1 that established the relationship between Michonne and Andrea from The Walking Dead. Rating this M for further chapters/language/and this is the zombie apocalypse after all. Fem pairing Andrea/Michonne.

Also, very excited to write Michonne since she is my favorite character in the television series as well as the comic book series.

The Drifters of Ambition

Andrea didn't like much anymore, but she sure as hell hated mornings like this.

The sun was shimmering through the broken window nearby and the peaceful silence of a new day literally made her want to vomit. It was some sort of horrible, sick irony, this "lovely-day" thing the earth was playing at. How could a day seem so sweet, succulent, and soothing when there were flesh-eating undead cannibals roaming around, driven by the scent of human, living flesh?

Andrea rolled over on the mattress and pulled the blanket over her chilled shoulder. Her eyes were closed. There wasn't time to relish in the tranquility of the moment now. She couldn't afford it. They couldn't afford it…

"I hate to interrupt your beauty sleep, but we really need to get going soon." Michonne's voice said calmly from nearby.

Andrea could tell that Michonne was sitting nearby, afraid to leave Andrea alone. Michonne had saved her ass a few months ago from being dinner to a walker and now seemed unequivocally determined to protect Andrea.

Andrea smiled and threw the blanket over her head.

"Come on Ma, five more minutes."

Michonne smiled softly as she sat atop a table. She pulled out her katana sword and inspected the blade. She eyed the curve of it, and scratched at something dried on the sword that didn't look like blood.

Michonne sighed, "We should get going soon. Even for a place as desolate as this, with that herd moving on through, it won't be long before they come here."

Andrea uncovered her head and sat up in dismay. She moaned softly as she stretched.

"Everything aches. Maybe I slept funny last night."

Michonne hopped down from the table and crouched near Andrea.

"What aches? Do you feel sick?" Michonne asked, as she grabbed a bag from nearby and began rifling through it.

Andrea smirked and collapsed back down onto the mattress.

"Just my body. My body just aches. Then again, we have been at it pretty hard for the past few days."

Michonne glanced at Andrea for a moment, meeting Andrea's almost translucent blue eyes before going back to the bag.

"I only have one asprin, but I'm sure I could find more. There's a small town not too far away. We could leave now and be there in a few hours."

Andrea nodded and pulled herself up from all that she had felt tranquil. Of course Michonne was right. And they would have to move sometime. If she was getting sick, perhaps they could find something much more secluded. She could recoup and get her energy back.

As Andrea helped pack up, she thought about how hated how Michonne made her feel as much as she was thankful for how Michonne made her feel.

She hated how the woman made her feel safe. Too safe. There was no measure of weakness allowed in this new world. Weakness is what got you killed. The moment you let your guard down was the moment you got attacked by a geek. It was the moment your guts would be torn into by some brainless walker. Some nights she contemplated deserting Michonne. Andrea had become so comfortable that she would drift off to sleep not a moment after Michonne said she'd keep watch.

Trust.

Trust was making her weak. Sure there had been trust with Rick and the group. But with all the Shane drama floating around and Dale confiscating her weapon out of fear of her "suicidal tendencies", she was still accustomed to look after herself.

But now, her sword-wielding savior had given her a sense of trust she hadn't felt in such a long time. And Andrea knew she could never desert Michonne just because she was afraid of being too trusting.

On the positive spectrum, Andrea had learned a lot from Michonne. Although Michonne never seemed keen on talking about her life before the apocalypse, there were always tiny little notions here and there that were wrapped up in small packaged stories. Michonne seemed more experienced to Andrea. And whether or not they'd stick together well into the future, Andrea knew there was a lot to learn from this woman.

Andrea stuffed the last of her belongings into her pack and glanced over at Michonne, who was going through some papers she had found in a drawer in a desk.

"You're a strong woman, Michonne. You know that?"

Michonne chuckled and began opening up more drawers, looking for something.

"What makes you say that? –Strong, muscled, black woman with a sword who saves your ass right before you're some geek's meal?"

"That and you have some pretty awesome dreads." Andrea quipped.

Andrea moved over toward the desk just as Michonne pulled a folded map from one of the drawers. She unfolded it and splayed it across the desk.

"I mean, you seem like a strong woman in general. Has nothing to do with race necessarily. Rather that, it just seems that you've gone through a lot. You have… experience. Or something that I clearly don't have."

Michonne paused from inspecting the map and turned toward Andrea.

"I just know I have to keep going. Keep moving. I can't stop. It's in my blood and it's in yours. We're alive for a reason. Not because of some religious prophecy or whatever bullshit that is, but because we have what it takes. And we have to prove that everyday. Our reward? Life."

"A miserable life." Andrea added.

Michonne shook her head, "But life still. In all of its misery, it's life."

Michonne held Andrea's gaze for a moment. Michonne felt her face grow warm as Andrea stared at her as if some great prophet had just spoken. When Andrea still had not looked away, Michonne collected the map, pocketed it and stood.

"We got to get going. Gingerville is not but 4 maybe 5 miles away. And if you're not feeling so hot, the sooner we leave, the better."

Michonne exited the room, urging Andrea to hurry.

Andrea smiled and stood, somewhat invigorated by this ambiguous pep talk. If Michonne could keep going, could be empowered by sheer thought, then maybe Andrea could too. And that was another positive to add to the list.