A/N: Hey guys, This is the final update, although a part of me feels there's more to tell. Sigh. Thanks for the reviews on this story. It really was intended to be a one shot but you guys persuaded me to push it. I love that Mike doesn't know what to do with himself when he realizes Michonne is dating up. And how sexy is confident Rick? He's my favorite too! RBGzMom your reviews have me hollering! You guys have no idea what hearing from you does for my motivation. Anyways this update is long (y'all know I am unable to do short chapters) so I hope you like it. Happy reading!

Sophia.


Rick and Michonne spent a full week getting to know each other further, only being separated by the reality of work commitments as they both had very demanding careers. Rick told her once she was off the clock that time belonged to him. Michonne was too happy to oblige. He had even offered to accompany her to get the perfect dress to wear to Mike's wedding. To say Michonne was elated about attending Mike's wedding with Rick was an understatement. She was actually looking forward to the event she had been dreading for weeks. It was all because of the sexy cowboy who was all too good at acting the role of her boyfriend. Given that they spent every day of the week delving into each other's lives Michonne was slowly realising the lines of pretending and reality had started to blur.

It was Saturday, the day was finally here. Michonne didn't have to make up any lame excuses to her friends for not attending Mike's wedding, although she didn't know why she gave into the pressure so much. Her excuses had ranged from a sick aunt; her mother was an only child, to faking her own death to her getting the chicken pox. She knew she was being childish but it was hard to wrap her head around the fact that Mike was marrying someone else today. She always believed that she was going to be the one looking at Mike at the alter. Her heart had been so settled on it. Despite the fact that Mike had proven himself to be a real ass hole, it still hurt.

She wondered if her heart would ever heal.

The only light at the end of the dark tunnel had been Rick. When she was with him she forgot to miss Mike, forgot that he was marrying someone else. It was just her and Rick. He had a way of making her feel like she was the only girl in the room with just one glance of his azure eyes.

He was attentive in all the areas Mike was not. While she was never one to compare men, it was almost like she knew Rick Grimes was the standard.

The day had started beautifully, the sun was out, in all its glory big marshmallow like clouds decorated the sky and it felt like a perfect day in June.

She and Rick had arrived at Yellow Tail Estates, a picturesque location with a wide expanse of rich, green grounds and a vintage House complete with tall white columns. It was the perfect place to have a garden wedding. Michonne was decked off in a long, flowy peach dress with a deep V-neck that went a bit past her cleavage and showed off her ample breasts. The dress had two long slits on each side, every time Michonne took a step her well toned legs were on showcase. Her dress was chosen, bought and paid for by Rick, all at his insistence. She paired it with a lovely cream strappy stilleto.

Rick looked like a model for Town and Country magazine in a navy blue suit, light blue shirt and shiny black cowboy boots. They made a gorgeous pair, heads were already rolling at their entrance. Before they chose seats Rick went off to find the rest room and Michonne was soon joined by her pal Andrea.

"Andrea why do you have a bag of popcorn with you?" Michonne was quite curious, Andrea was known for being eccentric but popcorn at a wedding was baffling.

Andrea looked at Michonne with a not so subtle smirk on her face.

"You brought the country version of a Disney Prince to your ex's wedding and you're wondering why I brought popcorn?" Andrea's eyes were alive in her navy blue, sweetheart, mini dress.

"Disney Prince? Really Andrea?" she laughed.

"Yeah girl you picked a real one! He's out here outshining every guy who's here. Disney Prince indeed. Just instead of Tangled you've been Wrangled!" she continued to tease her, shooting her hand in the air to imitate a claw.

"You are horrible! People won't even notice us."

Andrea shook her head at her.

"Trust me Chonne, people are already talking about Mike's ex who showed up with her very own 50 Shades of Country. I'm so here for this Lifetime Movie Special waiting to happen. I'm grabbing the best seat and enjoying this show. Catch you later."

Andrea walked off with a flip of her long blonde hair as she joined Sasha and Maggie.

Rick sauntered to Michonne in that sexy swagger that had all the women crossing their legs. He didn't just walk, he glided with a, clutch your pearls, slow, bow legged gait that could make a girl sweat in her most secret parts. Michonne tried to gather herself as he got closer. He really was 50 Shades of country, she was having the most impure thoughts at the moment. She probably failed at trying not to look so affected by his mere presence. All through the week she found herself thinking about him and counting down the minutes she would get to see him again. Rick advised her via a flowers delivery to her office that he had a week of festivities planned for her. He found out through Daryl that she had a passion for reading. Daryl had told him that Michonne inhaled books on a regular, so Rick took her to the local Barnes and Noble and told her she had an hour to peruse the shelves before they headed to dinner. He was content with just watching her do her thing. To say she has happy would understate her feelings. She had jumped in his arms without thinking about it first and he had gladly caught her. His chest puffed out knowing he put that gorgeous smile on her face. She never really got a chance to peruse the books thoroughly, she and Rick had ended up making a game out of the visit. She would select a book and Rick would give her his take on the story line based on the cover photo. Needless to say they ended up in the erotica section. She was making so much noise laughing at his ludicrous scenarios that ended in the most ridiculous yet sensual sexcapades that they had to leave before they were thrown out.

Being with Rick made her carefree. It was something she realized she didn't have much of with Mike. She was always on her best behavior in public with him, trying to be the perfect lady he expected. Rick made no demands on her. In fact he drove home the fact that he wanted her to feel free to be herself with him and she reveled in the openness she felt around him. It had been years since she felt safe to dismiss the Briggs Security Team around her heavily guarded heart and it had only been eight days. She was looking forward to a few more days with him.

As Rick approached the captivating woman in the dress he had proudly chosen for her he wondered briefly why he hadn't discovered her sooner. He wondered why Daryl never mentioned her before. She was such an amazing person and he was so glad they met as hilarious as their first time meet was. Over the past few days they had reached a level of closeness with each other he was still trying to comprehend. Having spent an entire week of being glued to the hip he now had a deeper insight to her beautiful mind and he was glad that she trusted him enough to be so open about her life. He recalled the beautiful memory they created on Friday. He had picked her up right after work and had taken her on a two hour drive that ended with them on Myrtle beach. It was such a scenic afternoon with the sun giving out bursts of colour that penetrated the clouds. The wind was alive and strong and he glimpsed her as she closed her eyes to it's breezy greeting. He wasn't sure if it was the pleasant roar of the ocean or the fact that she was very comfortable with talking to him but she had opened up to him yesterday. He was even more sure now of how much he wanted to be in her life. It was such a bonus that they could sit and talk for hours, there was no need for polite conversation or generic filler which never provided a true depiction of the person you were getting to know. Michonne and Rick had been real and raw with each other yesterday divulging secrets and sharing dreams that they hadn't shared with anyone.

It was how they had stumbled onto the topic of parents. After Rick had bragged about his own Michonne sadly delivered the blow that her father had walked away from her and her mother when she was eight years old without a backwards glance. The abandonment didn't leave her without scars and while she wasn't one of those women who screamed 'daddy issues' she didn't hide from the fact that she had a few deficits. Rick heard her deep cognitions and thought she had incredible strength for someone who was basically alone. She and her friends were close but Rick surmised that not all of them were privy to the Michonne he had gotten to know this past week. She was mature enough to understand her issues and she was trying her best to grow from the adversities of her life. One part of the conversation broke his heart as he replayed the words over in his mind.

"For a long time I thought I wasn't good enough to stick around for you know...My dad left and so did Mike. My first real love." Rick gave her space to continue. "Then as I grew older I just realized that some men just...left. I mean your destiny can't be tied to someone that left you right?" she looked at him like a 5 year old asking her daddy to make her understand the world. Rick wasn't too impressed that Mike added to her 'men leaving' theory and he wanted nothing more than to punch Mike in the face for hurting the angel in front of him. He caressed her face, "I don't think so. No." What kind of man walked away from this face? "But I do know you gotta give time, time. And soon enough you'll be over it. I promise you that." His hand lingered on her face as she stared at him, the breeze blowing all around them.

"How do you know when you're over it?" She asked innocently.

"When it doesn't hurt anymore." He was speaking from experience but he knew now wasn't the time to share his angsty story. She stared at him with her doe eyes.

"Rick." He kept his eyes on her.

"It doesn't hurt when I'm with you" she said to him with all honesty.

"Same for me too sweetheart" he said before claiming her lips.

Rick made a vow to himself and a silent one to Michonne. He was going to show her that sometimes men stayed, that he was the kind of man that stayed. He was going to stay. He wanted to stay.

He bent and kissed her on the lips as he took his seat next to hear on the heavily decorated white fold out chair. "Miss me?"

"If you're gonna kiss me like that every time you leave me then yeah. I missed you." she flashed her pearly white, dimpled smile for him and his heart clanged sharply against his ribcage. She was too sexy and he needed to get his hand on her before he died of thirst.

"Michonne. I see you made it. And you brought your….friend with you" Mike sounded aggressive as he approached them in his charcoal black tuxedo looking very much like a groom. Michonne smiled to herself as she realized Rick wore it better.

"That's. Boyfriend. Mike." Rick interjected. He wondered how bad it would be if he clobbered the groom on his wedding day. He weaved his hand around Michonne's waist as a possessive streak took him over in a rush.

"The invite said plus one." She said looking at Rick giddily under no pretense this time around.

"Yes but I thought you would've brought your mother." his ego was beyond bruised that Michonne seemed to be so smittened with the country boy that she couldn't take her eyes off of. He was trying to recall if she ever looked at him like that.

"Mike you invited me to your wedding, said you wanted me here weeks ago. Now I'm confused. Are you jealous or angry?" she said.

"I'm Nothing. Right now... I'm Nothing. I wanna talk to you Michonne... before the wedding starts." Michonne had never heard Mike stammer before and a tiny part of her was curious as to what he could possibly want to say to her at this late hour.

"I'll advise against that Mike. What you should do is focus on the woman you're going to marry. Leave me and mine." Rick said eyeing Mike down with the confidence of a man who knew what he was about.

"Rick's right Mike. Go get ready to marry the girl of your dreams." Mike tightened his jaw and walked off. Michonne wasn't giving him the time of day and he didn't like it one bit.

"Five more minutes and I thought I was gonna have to come over her." Daryl came over to the pair. "Please you two, try to behave today." Daryl begged knowing his friends. They were a handful on their own but a force when they were together.

"We're gonna be on our best behavior Dixon…..You know you're the only guy I know who can get away with wearing a leather Jacket to a wedding." Michonne's laughter filled the tent and she had only then realized she was being stared at. She knew a lot of the guests there and they probably watched the brief conversation with the groom. She was beginning to see what Andrea was talking about. Daryl walked off with a shake of his head.

Michonne heard the routine exchange of vows between Mike and Monica but she was so distracted by Rick's firm but gentle hand stroking her leg that she was concentrating hard on not bursting out in a loud giggle.

"Rick! Stop it!" she whispered "Sorry I can't help it, you're legs are incredibly soft yet so firm at the same time. Who picked out this dress with these two ridiculously high slits for you? You're such a distraction. If you were my girl there was no way I was letting you leave the house." His hand moved further up her slit as he continued to tease her. A giggle slipped from her and the elderly couple who sat next to them in the aisle looked at them both incredulously. She teasingly brushed his hand away from her leg and he placed his fingers in his lips in an effort to placate her.

Michonne pointed to the ceremony going on in front of the white Marquis tent and tried to pay attention.

"Please say after me. I Mike Johnson do take you Monica -" The Pastor gave his direction.

"I Mike Johnson, do take you Michonne -" Michonne heard Monica gasped and Mike utter a loud curse at his untimely blunder. Murmuring began in the crowd, it was obvious Mike had just called his fiance by the wrong name. She saw Maggie and Andrea whisper to each other.

"Michonne!?" she heard Monica scream her name.

Did Mike really just called her name at the alter instead of Monica's?

Her hand went to her head and mostly everyone turned to her direction and eyed her with bitter judgement, including the elderly couple next to them who she placed as Mike's Aunt and Uncle who she met at Thanksgiving a few years ago.

Rick simply took her hand and led her out the aisle and out the tent.

She vaguely heard Mike rambling an apology to Monica, there was no way Mike's mother would let the day pass without a wedding happening. Being the fool she was and only concentrating on marrying up, Monica forgave him and the wedding continued.

Yeah. Michonne thought. She deserved whatever she got for marrying Mike.

He lead her across the plush grass to the large mansion. He lifted her up and placed her between the two tall columns to sit. He rubbed her legs in an effort to calm her.

She didn't know when her breathing became so labored. "Breathe babe."

"I can't believe he called my name! Why would he do that?" she asked Rick, expecting a plausible explanation for the mishap.

"Because he realized that one man's 'you don't do it for me anymore' is another man's 'where have you been all my life" his answer was simple.

She stared up at him, her eyes looking like if they had just been given the gift of sight and the first thing she saw was Rick. In some way he had been her saving grace.

"Two years ago I thought it would be me up there. Then Mike moved on and I wasn't sure if I could be with anyone again. I didn't know if I was capable of being so close to someone again.

"Michonne, look at me." he brought her chin up with his forefinger, she was staring at him waiting on him to speak. He searched her cocoa brown eyes and caressed her face with his thumb. He saw the exhaustion behind her umber glare.

"Mike is not the last man you're ever going to love." Her eyes lit up at his statement perhaps with a little bit of hope. He decided then and there, seeing a glimmer of optimism in her that he would happily take up that role.

He would be the last man she loved.

He wanted to love her even though her heart was tired. He was betting his heart on forever with Michonne.

"I want you to be right so badly Rick." she read his unspoken message and was agreeing with him wholeheartedly.

He couldn't resist taking her lips, both hands sought the delicate feel of her cheeks and he inhaled her. His lips taking hold of her bottom lip.

She sucked his lips and he groaned. In the short week they spent together Rick realized that it didn't take much touching from Michonne to get him aroused. His tongue found its way into her warm mouth and he lapped her up. She placed one hand on his broad back and the other in his curls trying to sink deeper into him. They both forgot time and place. His hand found the way to her plump arse and he squeezed lightly.

Michonne pulled away after Rick kissed her top and bottom lips with a gentleness that aroused her and calmed her raging body.

They wanted each other then and there. Michonne broke away from the kiss and looked around at the large building. "There's gotta be an empty room in here somewhere!" she said breathlessly.

"Well let's go find out" Rick said taking her hand.

Rick lifted her up and placed her on the long table in the mostly empty room they found. He slid right between her legs and allowed his hand to stroke her hickory colored thigh. Rick provoked a sexual arousal in Michonne she had never quite felt before. She just knew she wanted him to touch her some more. She drew him closer with her legs and his lips sought residence between her plunging neckline. His fingers eased her way up the long slit of her dress and she widened her legs a bit. He kissed her breasts lavishly. He inhaled her sexy perfume and he felt the stirring of his manhood. He tried to adjust himself but Michonne drew him closer with her legs and with a quick squeeze of his behind. He didn't peg her to be so bold but it pleased him all the same. His fingers met her already slick folds and he began to stroke her there. His hand slid the fabric of her dress to the side and her perfectly round globe stared him in the face. His lips not wanting to be left out sucked at her nipple and he heard a cry escape her throat.

"Yes Rick" she writhed in pleasure at the double stimulation. Her hands got greedy and tried to free his belt buckle so she could touch him too. He paused her hands. "You want to touch me?" He asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Yess." she whispered, continuing on her mission.

"How bad?" he was straining at his seams but mustered enough strength to tease her. He wanted to bring out her naughty side.

"Rick please -"

Michonne didn't know if Rick was ambidextrous but somehow he managed to continue rubbing her bud and unbuckled his belt at the same time.

His thick member sprang free and she held him in her hands. Rick closed his eyes momentarily and lifted her dress so he could get proper access.

"You comfortable on this table sweetheart? Because I can't wait to get inside you any longer. But if you want we can wait until we can do this properly." he wanted her but there was no way he wanted to disrespect her if she wasn't comfortable with this being their first time. He figured she was inexperienced and he wanted to create new memories for her.

"Neither can I Rick. Take me please. You'll make it up to me somehow. " she sighed as her hands clutched his shoulders for leverage. She couldn't wait to feel him.

After he kissed her deeply he brought himself to her hot entrance and slid into her sweet nectar. She sighed loudly and he grabbed her hips.

Her heart felt racy, her head a bit cloudy. She never felt a man like this before. He was so deep and thick, she felt so connected to him. His movements became faster and she kissed him this time. Rick couldn't believe the tight feel of her core. His body was alive with sparks of current running through him from his head to his toes. He stared into her eyes as they thrusted together, saying so much without actual words. Michonne threw her head back and Rick licked her neck.

"Riicckk! Harder please! You feel so good! I've never had it so good before!" Michonne screamed out.

"I can't believe you called out Michonne's name at the alter! Do you know how embarrassing that was for me Mike?" The door to the room flew open and their dalliance was rudely interrupted.

Rick and Michonne both stilled at the intrusion

Rick covered Michonne with his body to protect her while pushing himself back into his pants. He was grateful they hadn't gotten naked.

"What the hell is going on here!?" Mike shouted.

"We just wanted some privacy buddy." Rick said, keeping his voice controlled.

"Mike stalked over to Michonne and touched her hand. If Rick didn't steady her she would've fallen off the table.

"Haven't you done enough for one day? You had to have sex with him too! And a public place nonetheless! I thought you weren't into that kinda thing." Mike was angry and Michonne knew he was blaming her for his vow blunder. He was so accustomed redirecting his anger to her.

"That would be you Mike, not me." She said straightening her hair and dress. Rick couldn't understand why this jack ass was raising his voice at Michonne. He was about to step to him and Michonne halted him with a hand to his chest.

"You've got nothing to say Michonne?" Rick wasn't going to do this with Mike. He thought it was best if they left.

"Congrats to you both. I think we'll be leaving now. " Rick grabbed her hand the same time Mike did. Monica may have well been a statue standing in the room.

"Let go of me Mike!" she tried to shrug herself out of Mike's grip but it held. Rick had enough of Mike's spoilt tantrums where Michonne was concerned. He ate up the small distance between them and his fist latched onto Mike's jaw with a blow so powerful that Mike hit the ground instantly.

He turned to Michonne and held her hand again. "C'mon sweetheart" he said escorting her out the bare room. She paused when she reached Monica who stood shocked at the fact her brand new husband was on the ground bleeding.

"You know what I realized today Monica? You're definitely the one for Mike. I hope you two are miserable together!" She followed Rick outside and smiled. Andrea would be proud of her pettiness. She imagined Monica running to her loser husband who was still wimping on the ground and she shook her head. To her surprise all the guests stood outside in the hallway and all eyes were on her and Rick as they made their way outside. Sasha, Daryl, Andrea and Maggie stood off to the side with the most amused expressions on their faces. They would be talking about this for weeks.

For once Michonne didn't care.

Rick hugged the beauty to his side and kissed her temple.

"You alright?" Rick was always concerned about her.

"I am. Thank you Rick." The sun was staring them down as they walked across the plush, green lawn of the expensive Estate. As she was looking up at Rick the rays of the sun created an almost halo around his head. To think a week ago she was still drowning in heartbreak, in a sea of hurt and shame, but then this cowboy came along and saved her. He wasn't just her life guard pulling her from the sea, he resuscitated her her heart and soul by breathing new life into her. By just being there for her. For that she will always be grateful.

"For what baby?"

"For being my pretend boyfriend" she wanted him to kiss her so badly. She hoped they were headed to his place to finish what they started.

"Michonne...we're not pretending anymore."