A/N: Thank you for reading. xoxo

-yagirlL

Chapter 1

Here Comes the Rain

I'm so happy for you, Glenn! You and Maggie deserve this," Rick said with a smile.

"We've been trying for three years; three fucking years, man. I'm honestly still in shock. When Maggie ran out of the bathroom crying, I thought it was negative, but no, it was positive; both sticks were positive. She wants to be the one to tell Michonne, so don't say anything."

"I won't," Rick replied.

"Dude, I mean it. If Maggie finds out I told anyone, she'll beat my ass." Glenn held the phone closer to his mouth. "Swear to me!"

"How the hell are you going to yell at me about keeping secrets when you're the one who told it," Rick chuckled. "I'm great at keeping secrets. Hey, remember that time you-"

"Okay, I know where this is going," Glenn interrupted. "You promised you'd never bring that up again, asshole."

"I'm proving my point," Rick shrugged as if Glenn could see him.

"Whatever, I gotta go. Maggie's waiting for me."

"Congrats, man! I'll text you tomorrow."

"Thanks, Rick. Bye."

Rick hears Michonne's keys jingling at the door. He is puzzled as to why she's back home so soon. She left for her date less than an hour ago. He laid his phone on the counter and waited for her to bang on the door. She can never get her key to work. *Bang, Bang*

Rick chuckled on his way to let her in.

"Hey," she greeted as he opened the door. "I jiggled it as you said, but it still didn't work. This doorknob hates me," she said, shaking her wet umbrella. "I don't know what I'm gonna do when I need to get in, and you're not here."

"What happened?" Rick asked. "Did you have to pay again?"

"No, not this time. The man has to show up first," she replied. "I didn't get a call or text that he couldn't make it, so I'm assuming my ass was stood up."

"I'm sorry, Chonne."

"It's not your fault, Rick. Do you any pizza left? I'm so hungry right now."

"Yeah, it's in the kitchen." Michonne headed in that direction, and he followed her.

Michonne grabbed a cold slice of pepperoni and took a bite. "Men are the worst. I mean, I spent hours picking out this outfit and I shaved my legs. Do you know how exhausting that is? I even let Rosita have my shift tonight. I went over and beyond for this date for him to stand me up."

Rick sighed. "What a dirtbag. I know how excited you were about tonight, and I'm sorry things didn't work out. He's an idiot for not showing. You look beautiful." Michonne is wearing a form-fitting black dress and her favorite pair of black heels. Her locks are wavy and pinned back out of her face; her makeup is light and natural looking, but she's glowing. She is breathtaking, and he feels sorry for the fool who missed out on the view.

"Yeah, thanks." They chatted for ten minutes until Michonne said she was heading to bed. Rick hated seeing his friend so down. Michonne is his rock in this area; she was always the one comforting him when his dates would end on a sour note. Michonne has never had setbacks like this in King County. It's different here in Seattle; men here in the city are nothing like the men back home. The fellas in Georgia would've bent over backward to go out with a woman like Michonne. Rick washes the dishes from his dinner and makes sure the apartment door is locked, and all the lights are turned off. He took a shower before climbing into his bed and drifting to slumber.

Michonne tossed and turned as the wind howled against her window like a wolf in the night. There are flashes of lightning followed by rolling booms of thunder. She can tolerate the rain- it rains very often in the new place she calls home, but thunderstorms terrify her. She's hated them ever since she was a little girl. Her grandmother would hold her tight and hum to her favorite hymn until it was over. After the second big boom, she hopped out of her bed and trotted down the darkened hallway to Rick's room. There is a crack in his door, and she gently pushed it open. "Rick," she whispered. He doesn't answer. I need to go back to my room. You're not a baby Michonne. *Boom!*

Shit! Michonne tiptoed over to Rick's bed. She stared at him before sliding under his covers and snuggling up beside him.

Rick is startled by the sudden weight on the other side of his bed. He jolted up and turned on his bedside lamp. He looked to his left to see Michonne peeping from under the covers. "Michonne?" His voice is raspy and deep from sleep. "Is everythang alright?"

Michonne loves his southern drawl; it reminds her of home. You can take the man out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the man. "I didn't mean to frighten you, but you know I hate thunderstorms. Is it okay if I sleep with you?"

"Uhh, yeah, sure." Rick nodded his head slowly and rubbed his eyes.

Michonne adjusted the cover over her body and Rick sees that she is wearing only an orange tank top and pink panties. He cleared his throat and turned the light back out. He scooted further to the right to give her more room.

"No, stay where you are." Michonne placed her arm over his torso. "I need you close, Rick. That's why I'm in here."

Rick tensed under her touch. Michonne has been his best friend since preschool, and they've shared a bed plenty of times before, but this is- different. They are older now and in their underwear. He often scolded himself for looking at her inappropriately. We're friends, just friends. He finally wrapped his arms around her as she rested her head on his chest. When she hears a crackling of thunder, she squeezes him. "It's okay."

"I'm embarrassed," Michonne whispered. "It scares me."

"Everyone is afraid of something, Chonne. How do you think I feel when you have to kill a spider for me?"

"Oh, good point. At least I don't run around the apartment screaming like a bitch over a tiny spider," Michonne giggled. Michonne, help me!

"Shut up," Rick chuckled and nudged her arm. "That wasn't an invitation for you to clown me." His phone buzzed on the nightstand.

"Who is it this time? Josie, Lisa, or Kim? Damn in the middle of a storm? Rick Grimes must be laying that shit down." Michonne is only half joking. Rick was a ladies man back in King County. He lived for one night stands and lack of commitment, but she couldn't say for sure if he's been as lucky here in Seattle. Rick is- sexy; there's no denying that. She tried not to look at him that way; he is her best friend after all. But she caught herself gazing him. His pink pouty lips paired with his freshly shaven face, and those short chestnut curls. We're friends, just friends.

"You are full of jokes tonight." Rick reached over and grabbed his phone. He has a text from his cousin Rachel. "That's strange," he mumbled.

"What is it?" Michonne asked.

My cousin Rachel is texting me at this hour. Rick opened the text:

Rachel: CALL YOUR MOM ASAP!

Rick: Why, what's going on, Rach?

Rachel: Rick, Julie has been in an accident. Call your mom for details.

"Oh-my-God!" Rick sat up straight in the bed.

"Rick, what's wrong?"

"My sister... she's been in an accident."