From My Lips to Your Ear

Rick would have never guessed he would be sitting outside of a woman's home like a pathetic stalker. The desire to catch a glimpse of her was just too great. He ached so badly for her. He really felt like he was losing control and finding it very hard to stay in the present when he was around family, friends, and coworkers. He finally understood what it meant to be consumed. Rick knew it was bordering on obsession. Hell he was obsessed and he could not get a grip.

He had told Lori he was taking the night shift . Doing a friend a favor. She didn't question it. Lori never really questioned him when it came to his job as a deputy Sheriff. It wasn't often that he worked an overnighter so it did not raise any suspicion with Lori and it was the only excuse that he could think of to get away. To breathe.

Everyday he was home he felt like he was suffocating. Rick felt like he did not belong with his family. He felt like he was being deprived. These feelings were intense and at first it frightened him the first week. Rick went to his phone and deleted all messages including her telephone number. The second week he was becoming restless, constantly checking his phone to see if he got a text or a missed call. By the third week he was restless and angry. Angry enough that he threw his phone while he was sitting on the back porch drinking his last beer. It landed in the grass. He was thankful that he didn't break it.

Rick drove two hours in Shane's fifteen year old pick up truck that Shane signed over to him . Rick and Lori only had one car even though Rick had access to the deputy sheriff marked car it wasn't a vehicle he could take out of Kings County to the outskirts of Atlanta.

It was 11pm. Rick sat outside Michonne's house not knowing whether or not she was home. He gripped the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles began turning white. He could barely see the house from the road. Rick quietly cursed himself for deleting her phone number in his contacts. He couldn't ask Shane because he would have to explain and he had no excuse that he could think of that wouldn't raise suspicion.

He thought about driving away before someone in the neighborhood reported a suspicious vehicle and then he would have to explain to the police what he was doing there. He couldn't use the excuse of Shane's and Andrea's wedding preparations because they had married three weeks ago and just recently came back from their honeymoon. The dress rehearsal. The wedding dance rehearsals. The photo-shoot. The bachelor and bachelorette party held in Spain. There was no reason for Rick to be in contact with Michonne. None.

Three weeks and two days since he last tasted Michonne. He was craving. Rick wondered if just seeing her would be enough? He began to think back to when they first met but the high beams from a car in the middle of the road about 500 ft. away illuminated his truck. All Rick could make out was that it was some type of sports car. Relieved that it wasn't the police, but knowing that it could still be someone calling the police. His phone buzzed. He looked at the text.

Michonne: Rick?

Rick: Yeah

Instantly, his phone rang. He answered on the first ring. Making note to save her phone number.

Michonne was silent.

Rick asked cautiously peering in his rearview mirror, "Is that you behind me?"

Michonne's heart was racing and she became almost breathless, "Rick, I am married."

Rick responded, "I am too."

Michonne turns off her high beams and pulls up to him in her canary yellow Lamborghini. She rolls her window down and he rolls the passenger side window down on the pick up truck. "Follow me." She rolled her window back up and took off with Rick following behind.

2 1/2 months ago

Shane pulled up into Ricks driveway in his brand new fully loaded Dodge Ram pickup truck that, Andrea, his bride to be purchased for his birthday a month ago. Shane had honked the horn once when Rick appeared coming out the front door. Daryl who was sitting in the passenger seat rolled down his window to wave for Rick to hurry up so they can begin their trip to Atlanta for their suit fitting.

Rick climbed in the back seat clearly impressed with the detailing and the screens in the head rest. Shane turned the music down to comfortably talk over it as he pulled out the driveway heading to their destination that was about an hour a way.

"So, Lori took the car even though she knew today was the fitting?" Shane asked incredulous.

"I am just glad you hadn't left already." Rick responded.

"You need to get a second vehicle already." Shane pointed out the obvious.

"Our budget doesn't justify it." Rick admitted.

"I can give you my old truck if you want. " Shane offered Rick. "I know things are tight. But, that shit would get old. I'll sign it over to you when we get back."

"Alright." The truck was fifteen years old but was dependable twin cab. He would still be able to carry Carl and Judith in comfort.

Forever my lady

it's like a dream

holdin you close

Daryl scoffed at the lyrics to Jodeci that was playing, "Are you serious with this R&B shit? Will I need to wear ear plugs at this wedding?"

"I am going to let you bastards know now that the best lovemaking I ever had has been to this music." He began to turn the music back up.

Daryl scoffed again as he looked out the window and Rick smiled wondering if they were going to get any details but Shane has been very guarded with what he and Andrea do in the bedroom compared to Shane's other conquest through out the years.

It has been a year for Daryl since he last had sex and he was divorced from Carol the
alcoholic. Almost two years for Rick and he was still married 'til death do they part'.

Shane was the only one aware of their drought and he couldn't comprehend how they weren't out whoring around. At least Daryl. Shane knew that Rick took his marital vows seriously. Especially with two kids to support as sheriff deputy in Kings County he had responsibilities and sex was no longer a priority for Rick. At least that is what Rick had convinced himself.

Occasionally, Shane would mention how if Rick was single how he would be a good match for Andrea's middle sister Jessie who has been divorced two years with two sons but that was wishful thinking on Shane's part to think that Rick would even entertain a life where he could experience that physical love. Plus Shane had other reasons at one point...

"So is this Jessie going to be taking pictures at the fitting?"

Shane turned the music down a bit, "Not that I'm aware. I know she will be there along with crazy ass Michonne, um Maggie, Rosita, and Sasha."

Daryl sighed, "My future wife. "

Shane laughs, " You think Sasha would be marrying into a family of racist."

"She will be marrying me. Not them." Daryl stated confidently," I am going to make her my wife."

Rick chimed from the back seat, "Is that so? After meeting her once last week at Andrea's house?"

"Yep."