Chapter 1.

Michonne arrived at her favourite park in downtown Atlanta for her routine Tuesday run. It was just about 5:30 in the evening, and the weather was perfectly cool and breezy. Invigorated she took in a deep breath, plugged in her headphones and started her three-minute warm-up. Michonne always loved running, it helped to de-stress her and clear her mind from her worries. She usually tried to get her workout in four times a week, but, things didn't always pan out that way. Today, however, she was here. She had made it.

Rosita, her good friend who would usually accompany her, started taking baking classes with her boyfriend Spencer on Tuesdays about a month ago consequentially leaving her on her own. "Mich it's so intimate. It's so much fun. I think you and Mike should join us, really. He'd love it." raved Rosita. 'No, he wouldn't' she thought to herself. Mike didn't do anything "fun" with her anymore. It was always work. He was always busy with their art gallery. Business was good...no, great! That was his everything now. As the poison of loneliness began to take hold of her heart, she took another deep breath and began jogging down the path.

The park wasn't overcrowded just as she liked it to be. She saw some faces that were familiar, and some that were not. Truthfully she was specifically searching those faces for someone in particular. Someone who had, by chance, become a place-holder for Rosita on her Tuesday runs.

About half way into her first lap, someone came up from behind her and lightly tapped her right shoulder. Startled, she spun around instantly only to find the handsome face she was looking out for.

"Hey, sorry I'm late."

She pulled out her headphones as a huge smile spread across her face.

"Hey Rick. Glad to see you" she said.

"Glad to see you too." He replied with a lopsided grin.

"Work?"

He nodded "Yeah. Nothing I couldn't handle."

As he smiled and stared at her, she felt as though his eyes were inquiring something of her. Those eyes...piercing,inquisitive, yet secretive. She had to look away.

"Ok, I only just got started." She nodded her head forward and they resumed jogging around the path. "No knee band today?" she asked as she glanced over to him.

"I just rushed out, didn't have the time."

"You didn't have to rush Rick. Putting it on is important..."

"I know, I shouldn't risk aggravatin' the old injury, but like I said I was in a rush. Plus it ain't all bad."

"Ok tough guy. But need I remind you that that same careless attitude is how we met in the first place."

He chuckled "Yeah...wasn't my best moment there." He shook his head and grinned as he recalled how Michonne found him that day in that same park three weeks ago, in agony on the ground clutching his dislocated knee.

"Well it wasn't all bad was it?" He stopped momentarily to hold her attention and she did too. "I mean I made a new friend." He said with a grin on his face.

"Oh is that what we are? Friends?" she replied with a smirk. He laughed and shrugged his shoulders "Well you did help me out when I was in a bind, and in return, I've been paying you back by keeping you company on your runs. You know ..." he paused looking around the park, "...it ain't safe for a woman such as yourself to be out here alone."

"Oh please Rick, I can handle myself."

"You never know who might be watching."

Just then Michonne noticed that her new "friend" glanced down at her and back up again while biting his bottom lip. 'Umm ok...' she thought to herself. 'Michonne be careful with this one. What were you even thinking picking up strangers?' she inwardly reprimanded herself. Indeed, befriending Mr. Rick Grimes was definitely out-of-character for her. But, she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was just... something. Yes he was handsome and good-natured and all of that BUT, there was something else, something more. 'Something' she thought, 'behind those pretty eyes,'. She was intrigued from the moment they met. Of course she wasn't being completely foolish, as a matter of fact she never revealed to him her last name, where she lived or even where she worked. She kept their conversations casual and impersonal. At least she tried to. Rick on the other hand was like a damn spy. He persistently questioned her on everything.

"So Ms. Michonne no-last-name-required, you gonna tell me how was your day today?"he asked teasingly.

She laughed amusedly while turning to continue jogging. Rick followed.

"All in all it wasn't too bad." She admitted concisely, then quickly followed with "How was it for you? Everything on schedule?"

"Looks like it, which means, Michonne, this might be the last time we see each other before I head back home to Washington. You know these business trips of mine usually go one way or the other, nothing too interesting ever occurs. Always the same...But this…I'm glad we met if only for a little while."

"Yeah, me too" she conceded.

"Besides, because things have gone well with this deal I got a new partner here in Atlanta, so I'll be back some time. Maybe we could see each other again? I haven't been a complete pain have I?" he joked.

" No, not a complete pain."

After continuing some time in silence, Michonne decided to take a chance with this man. She did enjoy the time they spent together, as brief as it was, and she felt a pang of guilt for being overly guarded with this seemingly kind stranger.

"Hey tomorrow night…" she hesitated.

"Yeah".

"I umm have a private showing at work. An exhibition…" Michonne was a little bit surprised at her sudden nervousness. Where did her cool calm collected self disappear to all of a sudden she asked herself.

"An exhibition?" he asked confused.

"Yeah, an art exhibition. I manage an art gallery not too far from here actually. Invitation only. If you'd like you can come and check out some of the talent Atlanta has to offer. Might find something of interest to you."

Rick tried his best to hide his genuine surprise at the sudden invitation. Keeping his eyes in front of him, not wanting her to see how pleased he was, he slightly nodded his head "Yeah, I think I might." He responded.

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Rick Grimes headed over to the vehicle waiting for him and got into the passenger side.

"Well, how'd it go?" inquired the beautiful blonde woman sitting behind the wheel.

"We're in. A private exhibition tomorrow night at seven."

"Finally, I was starting to wonder there about you Agent Grimes. It took you long enough."

Rick squinted his eyes at his partner while sucking in his lips momentarily.

"She's extremely guarded. She's got this wall up constantly, like it's almost second nature.'

"You mean like she's hiding something." His partner interjected. "Well agent tomorrow night we'll make the best of this opportunity. It's the opening we needed. You did good Rick."

"Yeah, we'll see".