A/N: Thank you RickysMichy, OtakuuA, Firefly-class, Nwfanmega, Lavender73, Enjoi, and Guest for trusting me thus far. I obvi adore Richonne and I'm literally fighting with myself each chapter to just say screw it and get them togethes, but the story must play out. Glenn and Michonne friendship is based so much on mutual respect and trust in a way that I find endearing to no end. So to treat myself and y'all I'm posting two chapters. This is Chapter 2, 3 will be out shortly after.

Thanks for reading, for taking your time out to review, and I hope you enjoy the next one!

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At around 9 PM the thunderous sounds of a motorcycle broke Michonne out of her conversation with a few of her regulars. The door opened as her favorite customer and adopted brother walked in wearing his usual Wrangler jeans, cutoff shirt, and winged embroidered leather vest and brown combat boots. His hair which had gotten longer swept across his chiseled face and striking blue eyes. He nodded at Michonne has she moved towards the corner of the bar to get him his usual. Behind him, came his boyfriend and all around badass Paul aka Jesus, his long sleeve leather jacket and beanie a strange addition in the heat. His long blond hair flowing and his beard nicely trimmed.

"Hey Michonne" Paul said, sliding up to the bar and taking his usual seat at the far end of the bar.

"Hey Jesus. You're looking mighty hot tonight" Michonne said pointing at his choice of headgear.

"It's getting chilly." he noted, "It ain't really summer here, ya know." he said with a shrug.

"No Carol and Morgan tonight?" she asked looking at Daryl.

"They're coming later. Had some babysitting issues. Had to get some nice girl named Beth to watch Sophia and Duane. Should be here soon." he said.

Daryl and Carol had been lovers for a few years, but called it quits after she met Morgan and decided to settle down. When he met Paul, the rest was just history.

"Well DJ Martinez is all set for y'all to cause our ears to bleed tonight." she nodded towards the makeshift stage area in the far left corner of the bar, where a few of the high-tops had been rearranged to allow for maximum viewing.

"Perfect. I think it's a Meatloaf night." Daryl said, causing Michonne and Jesus to groan simultaneously.

"Paul, you want anything to drink?" she asked, handing Daryl is drink,

"I'll have a soda with lime." he said, knowing they'd be here til close and wanting to at least pace himself. "Got it." she said, grabbing the soda gun and making his easy refreshment, even adding a couple garnishes.

"Made it pretty, just like you." she winked and walked back to her other customers.

An hour later the bar was bustling with customers, Michonne and Spencer had a line three deep at that point. Michonne made a note to have Rosita work as a second tender on Thursdays since she was a badass and could sling drinks a lot faster than Spencer sometimes. Spencer was yelling something about running out of triple sec as Michonne concentrated on making her 8th mojito of the evening. She thought why do the basics fucking love mojitos so much as she finished off the two drinks with a spritz of soda water. After the customers paid, the first riff of I Would do anything for love (but I won't do that) broke the reversely. She laughed as Daryl whipped the microphone a few times, giving a 'whoop' before setting in on the six minute monstrosity. By that time Carol and Morgan had shown up, grinning at Michonne. Carol gave her a hug across the bar and set across asking for their orders.

"The usual." Morgan said, giving her hand a little squeeze while Michonne poured Morgan a glass of bourbon and Carol a gin and tonic.

"God, he's awful." Carol rolled her eyes as Daryl swayed to the song.

"Michonne, I know you love him, but can you ask Martinez to stop adding songs Daryl can butcher?" to which Michonne just laughed and sighed.

"He keeps me open Carol. I can't have my best customer out of house and home, even if he's god-awful." she sniggered as the song finished and sparse clapping occurred.

Totally unperturbed, Daryl threw the mic to Martinez and walked over to Jesus, giving him a firm kiss on the cheek before sauntering over to Carol and Morgan.

"Ya made it. Thought ya'da stayed home tonight."

"And miss you kill a bunch of innocent bystanders, how could we miss such a thing?" Carol said. Morgan's hearty laugh tugging at the slight scowl on Daryl's face.

"Ya gonna sing tonight?" he asked the couple,

"Nah. Was hoping Miss Michonne would grace us with a tune" Carol said, winking at her friend.

"Maybe later." Michonne said, sliding away from the group to help Spencer who seemed to be struggling with pouring beers. Some days she wondered why she hired him, til she looked at the line of young women leaning over the bar to get his attention, flirtation written all over their faces. Yeah, that was why, he was easy on the eyes, even if he was sometimes inept.

"We need a third" he said, watching as she poured a line of shots and handed them to the waiting customer.

"I know Spencer. Next week, I promise." she said, ensuring he was heard for the millionth time.

Michonne was busy pouring a few beers, the taps at the back of the bar when a familiar lyth reached her ears. Turning around, she was pleasantly surprised to find that John Rhee had returned to the bar looking dapper in a clean white v-neck and black jeans, his eyes smiling at her.

"Back so soon?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Couldn't stay away if I wanted to." he replied, no hint of hesitation in his response. Michonne thanked the gods that her blush wasn't visible, as she turned her eyes down a little and smiled.

"So" he picked up "What does a guy have to do around here to get a drink?" he said, raising his eyebrows in a suggestive manner. Michonne leaned in across the bar, her shirt sliding down to reveal her perky breasts, the cleavage causing him to run his thumb along his jawline.

"You just gotta tell me what you want" she said with a smile as John blushed. Before he could continue, Daryl interjected "Chonnie, Chonnie, Chonnie. Can I get another round for me and Satan's mother?" referring to Carol.

"Sure D." she said, getting his drinks and handing it to him.

"So John, what'll you have?" she asked, ignoring the glare Daryl was giving her as he watched her interact with this new guy who seemed very interested in what his Chonnie was offering.

"Same as earlier." he said as Michonne nodded.

"Ey" Daryl said to the guy standing beside him at the bar "Hey" John replied. "You new?" Daryl followed.

"Just moved to town." he said "I'm John" he offered his hand for Daryl who grunted in acknowledgement and walked away without another word. Michonne returned with his drink in hand.

"He's… nice." John said.

"Who Daryl? He's just a little overprotective." she said, watching as John took a sip of his drink, his pink tongue licking his lips, tasting the bitter Campari.

"You guys married or something?" he asked in a cheeky voice.

"More like siblings." she offered "Plus his boyfriend Jesus would be a little upset about that arrangement." she said.

John nodded and glanced around the bar at the mixed crowd of biker types, early 20's hipsters and even a few Gen X'ers. Sitting his drink down he watched Michonne slink around the bar making drinks and chatting with the patrons. He marveled at her agility as she joked with her friends, made cocktails, and maneuvered around the clumsy guy Spencer. A vibration from his phone caused him to check it, his brother Glenn had texted saying he was actually going to stay in. John sighed at the fact that his brother was still so out of sorts about Maggie. He figured they'd at least stay up late and get rowdy.

"Hey, can you watch this?" he said to Michonne gesturing to his drink

"Don't wanna get taken advantage of?" she asked,

"Only by you." John replied. Michonne laughed "I got it." she said while he stepped outside to call his brother.

"Glenn" he started after the third ring "Get your ass down here."

"Dude, I'm tired. Just have fun without me."

"You are a dumbass." John said sighing at Glenn's lackluster reasoning and wishing him a slow and painfully boring evening.

As he headed back into the bar he noticed a red pickup pull across the street and park. The driver, a white guy with longish curly brown hair opened the door wearing a grey button down and faded black jeans and cowboy boots. John entered the bar just as Michonne got on stage, he walked to the seat he had vacated and waited as the drums came in for Missing by Everything but the Girl. The din from the door chiming as she belted the first lyrics to the song "I step off the train/ I'm walking down your street again/ And past your door/But you don't live there anymore."

John watched the other patrons as they sang along, his eyes catching hers as she belted the refrain. He was surprised that she had such a clear voice, her rich alto coming to the forefront as she sashayed along to the club mix. When she finished, the entire bar erupted with cheers. Leaning into the mic she said "Thanks for coming y'all. Now buy my booze, and tip me!" she handed the mic back to Martinez and walked back behind the bar. John locked eyes with Michonne as he stood mouth agape at her.

"You can sing." he said with earnest appreciation.

"I can do lots of things." she answered, "Like get you another drink if you want?" she said, handing him his now watered down beverage.

"I'd really like that, and your number."

"My, you're fast." she said,

"I just know what I want when I see it." he said. John was lots of things, smart, sometimes reckless and it came off as arrogant, but he knew he had to know this woman.

"How about this. You stay til I close, and I'll let you give me a ride home." she said.

"In that case, I'll take a double." he said, causing her to laugh.

John was smiling at her like a cat who just presented his owner a special gift when he noticed the truck guy walk over to the bar and lean in. Michonne excused herself and walked over to him, her calm disposition tensing a bit as the guy leaned over the bar and said something to her while glancing his way. She crossed her arms across her chest and he raised his hands in defeat. He said a few more things which she just nodded at and turned to grab him a beer. Taking the glass he noticed the way the guys eyes lingered on her a beat too long and how she broke eye contact first, walking towards Daryl, Jesus, and the others he had yet to meet.

After a few more patrons assaulted the bar with that Ugly Kid Joe song, causing Michonne to both boo loudly and hiss at Danny, one of her regulars and Carol and Morgan singing Creep by Radiohead, Michonne went back up to the mic announcing "Last Call" before Dj Martinez began the last song Stay by Lisa Lobe. "You said, "you caught me cause you want me/ And one day I'll let you go"/ You try to give away a keeper/ Or keep me 'cause you know you're just so/ Scared to lose/ And you say,/ "Stay""

As the song finished, Spencer began cashing patrons out as John waited for Michonne to return to her station. He smiled at her as she bounced back behind the bar, ringing people up and collecting empty bottles and glasses. John was so engrossed in watching her work he didn't notice the shorter woman with white-blond hair coming towards him.

"Hi, I'm Carol." she said pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Oh hi. John." he said, accepting her handshake which was firmer than he expected.

"So, you new?" she asked.

"Just moved to Atlanta" he said, watching as she put an easy smile on her face.

"What bring you to Atlanta?" she asked "Better job and my baby brother lives here." he said.

"Nice. So how do you know Michonne?" she said, waiting a few minutes "We just met." he said, wondering where the line of questioning was going. "Actually today." he said, a 'hump' came out of her mouth.

"She's great, isn't she?" Carol said, watching her friend work. "We've known each other for years." she said, providing a little information.

"How do you know Michonne?" John asked, inquisitive about the relationship of the people standing around the bar together.

"Well, Daryl and I met her here, when the bar opened." she said.

"That's cool. This is a nice place." he said, trying to be polite but not really understanding why Carol insisted on talking with him. He reasoned he had lived in New York for too long and the carefree ways of his home state had come off him after almost 10 years in The City.

"It is. Michonne is the brains of the operation. She's been serving us drinks for going on six years now. Is that right?" Carol said as Michonne walked up to the conversation.

"You're right Carol." she said before adding "You and Morgan heading out?" to which Carol affirmed before stopping to exchange pleasantries with John.

"Oh and Carol?" Michonne said, walking away from John "Can you take Rick with you. I'm too tired to go through his tantrum tonight."

"Michonne" Carol admonished.

"What Carol? Don't do that."

"He's trying." to which Michonne scoffed.

"That would have helped before he broke up with me and started seeing Jackie, Jamie, what's her name?" before Carol could say anything Rick appeared out of nowhere

"Jessie" he offered. "That's it. Carol's taking you out of here so you can go home to Jordan." Michonne said to Rick intentionally saying the wrong name.

"'Chonne" he said, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.

"Rick?" she drawled causing Carol to smirk despite herself.

"We gotta talk" Rick said.

"I'm still at work, and unfortunately you're leaving. Tell Carl I say 'hi'." she said before walking to the other side of the bar to collect dirty glasses. Rick signed and watched her interact with a few people, noting that among the many familiar faces a new one seemed to be getting a lot of her attention.

While walking out with Carol, Morgan, Daryl and Jesus, Rick ventured to ask the question he'd been pondering since he'd gotten to the bar

"Who'se the guy?" he asked to everyone and no one in particular.

"John. He's new to town." Carol offered at which Daryl grunted.

"She seein' him?" Rick asked, noting that although a number of patrons had left the bar, John looked like he was hunkering down to stay til close. Morgan, whom was a dear friend but a fair one said "She didn't say, and it's none of our business." to which Daryl replied.

"Like hell it ain't. It's Chonne. That's our business alright." Jesus and Morgan made eye contact and just shook their heads.

"Rick, stay out of it." Carol cautioned, walking to her car and watching as her friends departed.