Flames cracked in the fireplace that sat in the Grimes family's cozy Alexandria living room. The winter had hit the survivors like a load of bricks, as it always had. No matter how much they tried to prepare, the aching cold always crept up on them slowly- and then all at once. Michonne, sat on the ground leaning against the bricks to the fireplace, her head down to the ground, nearly drifting off, with a tan quilt wrapped around her. Rick wasn't far away. He lay five feet from her, his elbow propping him up into an almost sitting position as he looked into the fire for what felt like hours.

For a while, neither of the two said a thing. The silence both comforted and terrified the two. They enjoyed each other's company, but they were afraid of what could happen in the moment. They never had to be alone in silence. They always had distractions. Neither of them felt they were ready to admit their feelings to themselves, and now- with the orange glow of the warm fire dancing on their skin, it was hard to run away from those thoughts.

Rick let his mind wonder, and with it went his eyes. It physically hurt to look at the woman before him- his stomach dropped deeper and deeper as he looked up her slender, yet muscular build. Every second his eyes spent on her was another second he spent realizing how badly he needed her. He felt like his guts were being stabbed into, and yet he couldn't look away. He was in too deep, admiring her beauty. He felt a sense of urgency, and nearly felt like panicking. He didn't want to fight it anymore. Though the sinking feeling within him didn't leave, his mind did as he lost himself taking in her every detail. He lost track of time- too. He had no idea how long his gaze had been lost in her- until his eyes met with hers.

"Rick." He was brought back to reality as she whispered his name, low and smooth. He said nothing back. This didn't bother Michonne, because she was terrified of what she'd end up saying if he responded.

A loud, solo, cracking sound was released from the fireplace, startling the two, who were still lost in each other's gaze. They jumped a little, bringing them back into reality. Michonne shivered, being reminded of how cold she had been. Goosebumps dotted nearly all of her body, only sparing her face, and one side of her right arm and leg- which had begun to even feel hot to the touch, after sitting by the fire for so long.

"Here," Rick started, as he began to strip off his jacket. It was a torn old thing- but it was warm enough to keep around. Michonne suspected he felt rather cool in it, which was the real reason he kept it around. He had grown a little sloppy, so she made a point to wash it for him frequently, leaving it almost as soft as her own skin.

"No." she said, her voice husky.

"Take it."

"No." she insisted, more intensity in her voice this time.

"Yes." His voice, even more intense than hers. It drew her back a little bit, but she didn't mind. He pushed himself all the way up to a sitting position with his arm, and half-crawled to her. He slowly tugged her quilt down off her, leaving her shoulder exposed, sending a wave of cold to the skin that had been protected in a little pocket of heat that had built up within the blanket. His eyes never left her- but hers stayed to the ground. He slipped his jacket onto her- admiring how it hugged her-despite being entirely too big. He reached his arm around her to grab the quilt from behind her. As his arm brushed against her, her eyes shot up to him. It was an embraced that only lasted a moment, but she felt herself wishing it had remained there. He placed the quilt back over her shoulders, and her eyes followed his every movement.

His body straightened up as the cold hit him. Michonne was in shock. He never failed to amaze her. She knew all too well how cold their home got- and he had just sacrificed his jacket to her, and placed the blanket back on top of her, allowing himself to freeze. He didn't mind the cold as long as it wasn't hurting her. She fought back tears from welling up in her eyes as the realization hit her.

She remembered when the prison had fallen, and she had found her way back to the man and his son, her best friend. Rick would watch her and Carl split candy and cookies and cans of spray cheese- never once even hinting that he would like some. They wouldn't have minded sharing with him, but he didn't ask. While stale chocolate and old preserved dairy from a can wasn't the finest of foods- she knew how empty his stomach was, and how much it probably hurt, and how weak it made him feel. But as long as they had something in their stomach, Rick was content.

Finishing her thought, Michonne drew herself back to Earth quickly, and grabbed Ricks hand, moving them to her thigh, and covering them with her- much smaller, hands. Heat stung as it hit his icy skin. The cold hurt Michonne, but she didn't mind. Both of their eyes slowly looked up from their embrace, and locked at once. He slipped his right hand out from between her thigh and hands, and slowly brought it to the side of her face, cupping it as he slowly leaned into her. She leaned in as well, for what felt like hours. Finally, just before their lips could meet, they heard a voice.

"Hi Rick! I, uhm, accidentally made too much dinner so I thought I'd drop by and give you so-" said Jessie. A cute but ignorant blonde who had seen nothing of what the world truly is.

Rick cursed under his breathe as he looked up and saw the woman, who had entered his home without warning or permission. Michonne jerked her face towards the direction of the fire. The moment was ruined entirely.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupted something?" asked a purposefully oblivious Jessie. She attempted to be subtle as she batted her eyelashes toward him and lifted up the casserole dish in her arms slightly.

"Get out." He groaned.

"What?" she asked with a soft voice. A voice that most found adorable, but that Michonne found irritating as all hell.

"You heard me. You don't just come walking into someone's home like some-"

"Rick." Michonne cut him off. She knew without looking that the girls eyes were filling up with tears, his intensity coming as a surprise to her. The three sat in silence for a moment until Michonne finally swallowed, and looked over.

"You can set it on the table there. We'll help ourselves to it when we're ready. You should get going." Michonne said softly, but with some seriousness in her tone. Jessie couldn't hold back the tears much longer, so she turned around and showed herself out.

Rick leaned back into her, and returned his hand to her now warm face, attempting to immediately continue where they left off. Michonne turned her head to the side, dodging his kiss.

"'Chonne…" he barley let out. She looked down, intensely at the fire. It left a burning sensation on her eyes, so she shut them hard.

"What are you doing?" she thought. At first she thought she was asking herself what she was doing, almost allowing herself to get caught up in a kiss. Slowly, she realized what she was really asking herself. What was she doing avoiding the kiss? Avoiding her own happiness?

She looked up to him and smiled sweetly. His eyes widened and then relaxed. She reached her hand up to cup his, which still held her cheek.

Their lips met evenly in a soft kiss, that continued for an entire minute before Rick flicked his tongue into her mouth, bringing heat and intensity into the embrace.