A/N: G'day everybody! Thanks for the fantastic responses to this story. I'm so glad people have enjoyed the first instalment and liking the lighter side of things. Thanks for the follows, dear readers.

Thanking the following for their reviews: thelisa17; ishipwhateverthefuckiwantto; Sharei27; lacsim1978; Babe Malf; Love'Joy1990; Alex311; KK; Lyra Verse; Beautiful77; EisleyGirl, SBK (loving your lists; how cool is it when your name pops up in a fic? Mine never does haha); megs27; CherokeeRose29; ssaamm23; focusedOnProsperity; RPG Girl; and Yari (yes dude still has the mullet! Lol).

Andrea and Eugene: didn't see that one coming, right? Hahaha KK, about opposites attracting, when I was working in the high schools, you would not believe the sneaking around that some of the staff did! People you would not even imagine being together LOL but because a lot of the time teachers didn't usually come from where they worked, the only people they got to know well were other staff (I'm using that logic here). Oh and I'm laughing at Milton v Eugene in a game of D&D!

focusedOnProsperity: definitely agree with that. Majority of the students I had who people thought were 'naughty' or 'lazy' had little to no support at home.

Okay, let's get back into it. This picks up right where we left off.


Michonne sighed as she looked at the stack of exercise books that needed to be marked, as well as the remaining paperwork for guests who were to set up stalls at the Expo. Her kitchen table was covered in paper as she sat and ate her dinner, deciding that she would mark her students' work while she was in bed later that evening.

She then remembered to check her phone and smirked when she glanced at the screen. Three missed calls from Andrea and a rather animated text message which read:

Your bf gave me a ticket!

With multiple sad face emoticons; twenty-seven, in fact, plus a picture of the ticket and a selfie of Andrea wearing an unhappy expression. Michonne smiled to herself, finished off the last of her salad and then called her friend.

"Um, Mich, what's Deputy Fine Ass' problem?" was Andrea's immediate question.

Michonne laughed loudly and put her friend on speaker phone while setting the device down on the tabletop.

"Guess he's just doing his job, sweetie. By the way, he had no idea it was you who was parked illegally when he gave the ticket to you," she offered as she took a drink from her orange juice.

"Well, I hope you're able to pull a favor with him," Andrea chortled.

"Now what makes you think he'd do that for me?" Michonne asked genuinely.

"Uh. Let me see. Oh right. The fact he was falling over himself to help you today!"

Michonne laughed again and said: "Ain't even like that."

Andrea rolled her eyes.

"I'm rolling my eyes at you right now. So, what happened after we went our separate ways?"

Michonne chuckled and then went on to explain to her friend what had transpired; which she thought was nothing too exciting.

"Ah, well; not much, actually. He just made sure to follow behind me, in case Jase's father tried anything. He came inside, checked the doors, gave me his number and went on his way."

"That is not police protocol, doll. Not in this situation. You know that right?" Andrea asked.

"Yeah, I know. Maybe they do it differently around these parts; you know, because of the small community and whatnot?"

"Yeah, no. I don't think that's why. Ooh! Ooh! Did he give you his work number or personal number? He gave me his work cell number but I bet he gave you his personal one!" Andrea said as she bounced up and down on her sofa out of excitement.

"Calm down!" Michonne laughed. "I doubt that he gave me his personal number."

"Nah, he did. I just know it! Anyways, we'll compare numbers tomorrow but the more important question is: are you gonna call him?"

"I guess. I mean, if I need to..."

"Hon, trust me; you need to! He's into you."

"Gosh, Andrea. You know I love you, but you're reading way too far into it. He's just a nice guy..."

"With a cute butt..."

"Who's just doing his job."

Now Andrea laughed.

"He didn't really need to come back to the school and make sure you got home safely…"

"Ah, yeah he did because you'd have pestered him otherwise…"

"Rolling my eyes again. He likes you. And if you weren't such a stickler for propriety, you'd be all over that…"

"Andrea, are you sayin' I'm a prude?" Asked Michonne.

"Maybe just a little. No, no! What I'm saying is you're…You're very modest…"

"I just have standards and hitting on the single father of one of our students isn't usually in my operator's manual…"

"I know, I know. But come on! At least admit he's hot!"

"Okay. He's an attractive guy..."

"Raising that darling child all on his own..."

"Yep," agreed Michonne as she nodded her head.

"Wearing that uniform like nobody's business..."

"That's true..."

"So, are you interested?"

"I don't know. I don't think it's how you're making it out to be..."

"But if it were?"

Silence.

"Maybe I'd entertain the idea. But I barely know him. It's the first time I've spoken to him besides the casual hello and this weather is something else in the queue at the supermarket once in a blue moon," Michonne explained with a sigh.

"Well, you should call him. Ask if he wants to meet up. I know he'd like to see you again..."

Michonne laughed.

"How can you possibly know that?"

"I'm good at reading people, but honestly, it's all in the eyes. Dude was lookin' at you like you were a nice porterhouse steak…"

"I'm not a piece of meat, bitch," Michonne said jokingly.

"Bitch, I know! I just meant he looked at you like he wanted to eat you, if ya know what I mean," Andrea clarified.

"God, you're such a class act," said Michonne as she tried to supress more laughter.

"I know. But come on, send him a text and see if he wants to catch up," Andrea advised.

Michonne sighed at her friend's persistence.

"I'll see him next week at the expo," she finally said.

"What? He said he was busy that week."

"No, he told me he could be there when I asked, seeing as no one from the Sheriff's Department got back to me..."

"Girl! He changed his mind for you! I put it to him and he brushed it off. Oh my goodness, you are sooooo in there! Ohh, Eugene's here, I gotta go. I shall see you tomorrow. Love ya."

"Love you too."

With that Andrea ended their call and Michonne felt her stomach flutter.

xXxXx

The next day Michonne placed the stack of books in her cubbyhole and made her way to her office. She did not have to teach a class until after recess so decided she would take the time to finish organizing and finalizing the Expo. She still needed some paperwork from guests completed; namely forms to ensure she had the authority to publish any photographs taken on the day and that covered the guests if an emergency or incident occurred. It was her least favourite part of arranging events; the mountains of paperwork.

She sighed as she flopped down at her desk and looked over her things-to-do checklist. Michonne smiled when she noticed that the list was much shorter than it was at the start of the week; now that it was Thursday, she had many more items checked off. She picked up her pen and added another item to her list of what needed doing: Rick Grimes, Sheriff's Dept.

Michonne's cell phone started to vibrate so she retrieved and answered it; it was one of the other guests confirming they would be able to make it to the Expo. She ended the call, checked that item from her list and then looked at what she had written down last.

I may as well call him, she reasoned.

She searched her contacts until she came across his name; she looked down at her screen, took a deep breath, shook her head for being silly and then called Rick Grimes. After several rings, someone answered at the other end.

"Hello?"

"Hi. This is Michonne Harris from the high school, I'm looking for Rick Grimes," she stated, furrowing her brow and thinking it did not sound like the Deputy who had answered.

"Oh, okay. This is his son Caarl, he just went into the drug store. Is that you, Miss Harris?" said Carl.

"Hi Carl, yes it is…"

"Oh, I'm not playin' hooky, I needed my asthma medication this morning and then my Dad's gonna drop me off…"

"It's fine, Carl. I'm not calling about that I just needed to speak with your dad…"

"He's here now…Dad, it's for you," Carl explained as he held the phone out for his father.

"Course it's for me, it's my phone. What did I tell you about answerin' it?" Rick said to his son quietly before asking: "Hello?"

"Hi Rick, it's Michonne Harris. How are you?" she asked with a smile.

Rick smiled now as Carl looked at him annoyed at being chided by his father while one of his teachers was most likely listening.

"Oh, hey. Yeah, I'm doin' fine. How are you? Everything okay?" Rick queried.

"Yeah. It's all good…"

"Good," he offered feeling relieved and not knowing exactly why.

"I was just calling about the Expo next week. I realize I didn't even give you the date or time or anything like that," she said.

"Yeah, I thought that too after I agreed to go and then I didn't have your number to check with you," he laughed.

"I was a little scattered yesterday, sorry about that…"

"No need to apologize. It's understandable," Rick said with a grin.

"Well, it's on next Wednesday and kicks off from eleven o'clock until school's out. Is that going to be okay for you?" Michonne asked hopefully.

"That's fine. I'll be there. What did you need me to bring?" Rick asked, mentally making a note to confirm with his superior and clear his calendar that day.

"Ah, just some of the Department's promotional material; pamphlets; those pull-up banners if you have any; recruitment material. If you've got any of those fun novelty giveaway type thingies, that would be great too. We'll be inside the gym. You'll have space to set up a banner and a table will already be there for you."

"That sounds easy enough," Rick laughed.

"It is. Have you ever done anything like this before?" She asked.

"Yeah, but it's been a while," he offered.

"You'll be fine. Any fire department or police stalls are usually really popular at these events. The kids will love you," Michonne said.

"Hope so," he chuckled.

"Trust me, they will. Well, I have some paperwork for you to sign. I'll give it to Carl for you, if you like?"

Rick wanted to say he would stop by and pick it up himself, but there was nothing wrong with what Michonne had suggested; it was probably the easiest thing to do. Though he had to admit it would have been nice to see the woman with the beautiful smile again.

"Yeah, that'd be good. Thanks."

"Okay, fantastic. I'll see you next week," Michonne offered cheerfully.

"Great. I'll see you then. Bye."

"Bye."

Rick placed his cell phone back into the glove compartment and then looked at Carl who was staring at him.

"What?" he asked his son.

"Uh, I'm gonna be even more late now," the boy stated. "What was that all about? Did Miss Harris just ask you out on a date or something?"

"What are you talkin' about, Carl?" Rick said as he narrowed his eyes.

"Sounded like you two were planning a date," the boy said with a smirk.

"What do you know about dates, boy?" Rick laughed, hoping his son did not see his face turn red.

"I know plenty, old man," Carl laughed.

"So, are you going on a date? It's okay. I mean, you're way too old for her and she's out of your league, but whatevs. If she's not embarrassed to be seen with you then I'm not gonna be embarrassed by this whole thing as long as you two aren't makin' out in public or anything like that..."

"Carl, just stop while you're ahead. We're not goin' on a date. I'm gonna be at your school for that Expo thing next week and I'll be talkin' to all of your classmates and school buddies and girls who like you and girls who you like; so what were you sayin' about not bein' embarrassed by me? Don't speak too soon, Sonny Boy," Rick said as he laughed and started the car.

xXxXx

It was Friday afternoon and a certain Deputy had found his way over to the local high school that his son attended. Rick smoothed his uniform down after removing his hat while he fumbled with the crisp sheets of paper in his hands. Leanne at the reception desk looked at her computer screen and then back up at the Deputy; she had checked Michonne's timetable, found where she was at that exact moment and smiled at Rick.

"She's still on class right now, Deputy. The session will be over in about ten minutes. Did you wanna wait to see her or just leave the paperwork with me?"

Rick checked his wristwatch and then offered the stout older woman with the kind face a nod of his head.

"I have some time, ma'am. I think I might like to wait," he said.

"Okay. I'll call her up over the PA shortly. Take a seat, please."

Rick nodded in her direction and offered her thanks before taking up a seat. He suddenly felt as if his stomach was doing little flips while he waited for the utterly intriguing and attractive teacher. He knew it would have made complete sense to give the documents to Carl to return, but something inside of Rick urged him to bring them to Michonne in person. He felt so drawn to her.

Rick had seen Michonne around town on occasion and had made an effort to say hello or make conversation with her about the weather; he really did not have any excuse to speak with her at length as they were not well acquainted and she did not teach any of his son's classes.

Rick, upon noticing her some time ago in the aisle of their local supermarket, thought that Michonne was quite good looking. If he was being completely honest, he thought she was positively stunning. She radiated an air of mystery and her presence demanded attention without her even realizing it. Her hips had an alluring sway and her smile was as bright as the hot Georgian sun.

xXxXx

"Rick, you didn't have to come all the way down here to drop these off," Michonne said with that same smile that he found so enticing.

"I was in the area, thought I'd come by," he offered, noticing that Leanne the reception lady was pretending to work but was really listening to their conversation as it was the third time she had stapled the same sheets of paper while eying them discreetly.

They went quiet a moment and then both decided to speak at the same time; Rick and Michonne both laughed coyly.

"Sorry, you go first," Rick offered.

"I was just saying it's great that we're getting so much support from local organizations, agribusiness and vendors for the Expo. I think it's important for locals to have a sense of pride for this town; particularly our young people," she said thoughtfully.

Rick nodded and tried to focus on what she was saying, but her eyes were just so beautiful and he felt like she was staring right into his soul. He cleared his throat.

"Yeah, we're always glad to show our support; especially for the school. All of us guys at the Station went here. Hell, I got into my first fist fight over near that water fountain," Rick said with a laugh, and then immediately regretted saying it.

He hoped Michonne did not think he was some hot-head who was quick to use violence; he swallowed as Michonne raised her eyebrows at him.

"I wasn't a bad kid; I mean, I wasn't the best student, but I kept my nose clean, for the most part. Well, except for when I got into that fight with Timmy Slater. Oh, but that was ages ago now. Not that I'm sayin' I'm old or anything. Please, feel free to jump in and stop my ramblin' at any time now," Rick offered with a nervous laugh.

Michonne smiled; she found him to be quite adorable. She was about to say something when a voice came over Rick's radio.

"Excuse me," he offered as he unclasped the radio from his belt and stepped away from Michonne.

Shortly after Rick walked back over to her.

"Sorry, I have to go. But it was nice seein' you again," he said with a smile.

"Likewise," Michonne offered with a smile.

"Have a good day," Rick said, still aware of Leanne's gaze.

"You too," Michonne said politely.

They shared a smile and Rick went to turn to leave but Michonne stepped forward and started to speak quietly.

"Oh, one more thing," she said softly. "I wanted to say before that I'm sure the fight wasn't your fault. You seem like a really good guy. You're way too sweet to be trouble."

Michonne then smiled shyly at Rick who felt his face grow warm at her flirting. He nodded and bid her farewell before practically dancing out to where he had left his partner Shane Walsh in the squad car.

"Why'd you radio me, asshole?" Rick said as he got into the driver's seat.

"What took so long? I need to take a dump, man. And why you got that dumbass smile on your face?" Shane asked.

Rick rolled his eyes but did not answer.

"Shit, son; that teacher you went to see, she's hot, ain't she? And wait…You sweet on her too, Grimes?" Shane queried as he sat up straighter in his seat.

Rick remained silent but was barely able to hide his smile.


A/N: Next instalment is the Careers Expo! More Richonne fluff to come…