After his conversation with Lorelei, the two spent another few hours with each other talking about various topics as Rick tried to think of a solution. If Deanna had already turned it away then there was nothing he could do with out putting the group in jeopardy. But unlike Lorelei he wasn't alone, and although she wasn't alone anymore, he'd had a family for so long and he knew they'd have his back no matter what.

Later that day he was in his house when there was a knock at the door. That made him think it was Lorelei, nobody from his own group would bother knocking. But why was she coming by when they'd just been together a while ago?

To his unwanted surprise it was Pete at the door. The smell of beer wafted into the house from Pete's current state. "Hey, Rick, just having a beer. Thought I'd bring you one for helping my wife today." Pete said.

It was clear that Pete was already drunk, heavily buzzed at best as he stumbled through the doorway. "Um, I'm good, but thanks," Rick said as he tried to keep things civil.

"Come on, don't tell me you're still on duty." Pete pushes.

"Kind of always am, you know?

"Not at Deanna's party." Pete  comments walking further into the house, "I saw you. You had some, right?" He asked holding up the beer in his hand.

"You know, I wish I could have helped out more today. I asked around, but nobody saw or heard anything." Rick said trying to change the subject.

He remembered the party, how uncomfortable Lorelei had been in Pete's presence. Today he found out why, but it wasn't like he could confront Pete right off the bat. Who knows how Pete would take out his anger if he thought his wife or kids had told somebody about their situation.

"Well, it was just an owl. Grand scheme of things, I think we'll live." Pete replied brushing it off.

"Yeah," Rick drawled out, at this point he really just wanted to know why Pete was really here.

"I'm sorry. Heard you lost your wife." Pete said out of nowhere, Rick looked him in the eye trying to withhold his glare, what was he getting at? "But, you're with Lorelei now right?" He asked not waiting for an answer. "I think I heard Jesse mention something about that, now that... that's something special." He stated, but their was this sly look gleaming in his eyes that had Rick curling his hands into fists.

When Rick didn't reply Pete continued, "Hmh, you know... I'm sure it looks like we haven't lost much, but we have. We've lost things. Other things we're just fighting like hell to hold on to. Everything you people have been through, I don't know if you see that."

"We do." Rick answered tightly with a nod of his head.

Pete took another sip of his beer, "Bring your kids in for a checkup." He offered trying to change the mood of their conversation. ¨I know I offered you one, but they really should come in. They were out there a while, right?" Pete finished, Rick's eyes narrowed a  bit at the mans tone as he said that last part. Like somehow it was Ricks fault, his kids were on the road for so long.

"Yeah. Thanks, Pete." Rick replied quickly wanting the conversation to end and for the man to leave his house.

"Let's be friends, man. We kind of have to be, right?" Pete said taking a step closer giving Rick a slight grin.

"Yeah, we do."

"So we will. I'll see you, Rick." Pete said leaving the house.

Rick was left standing there as he peered down to the wedding band on his finger. He knew he was with Lorelei so he didn't know, was it wrong to still wear it?

Lori had been the first love of his life, his wife, the woman who gave him his son and daughter. When she died he lost his mind, they weren't on good terms at that point and after all this time it still didn't sit right with him.

He knew he would move on eventually. There would always be a piece of him that died with Lori, but that didn't mean he didn't have a chance to find something with someone else. Up until now he hadn't spared any woman a second glance in that way.

No one had peeked his interest. Till Lorelei, he didn't know what it was, they were practically stangers. And although that was something that would change over time, the fact that she understood him with out even knowing him was all the more reason he was drawn to her. Lori didn't even understand him most of the time and they had been together for year's.

He knew he shouldn't be comparing the two. They had nothing to do with each other and they were both very different anyway. But maybe that was a good thing. He didn't need another Lori, he loved her and she died and he'd always be grateful she was a part of his life, but now he needed something dirrent, someone diffrent.

He was a different man. The years of deadly chaos around him had changed him, and that changed the kind of support he needed. He didn't want to get his hopes up but maybe Lorelei would turn out to be the kind of support he needed.

Thus, he took his ring off.

<><><><><>

He knew he needed to do something soon. Lorelei had told Rick about Pete, and now Carol had also confronted him on the subject. He saw how Pete was, he knew getting them to separate wouldn't be easy. There would be complications, Pete would resist and things would ultimately end badley.

He might have to kill him, and Rick didn't like how okay he was with it.

<><><><><>

VOTE AND COMMENT PLEASE <3

Okay here's another chapter. And yes Rick did take off his ring, I know in the show he dosent take it off till near the end of season 6 but we're switching things up.

.