A/N: I've gotten a few questions I'd like to try and answer before the next update. The main characters in this story are all in their 30's - Fitz and Olivia being a bit older than Rick and Michonne. I've also posted a few pics on Twitter to help give you a better idea of what the characters look like in this particular story. I hope this helps and I appreciate you reading!

Lastly, I'd like to thank Katrina for creating the edit of Andrew Lincoln and Tony Goldwyn that inspired the direction of this story. And thank you to Diana for helping me in my time of need lol ;) I love you ladies! Xo


Chapter 4: At Arms Length

The Houston skyline greeted Olivia and for a split moment she contemplated on whether or not she was making the right decision. Her grandmother was excited to hear she would be in town and for the first time since grade school she told a complete lie regarding the true meaning behind her visit.

Fitz's text explained Catherine's whereabouts and they both agreed for the next few days she would split the day in half...checking on his mother in the morning and taking care of Rick in the afternoon.

She looked forward to seeing Ms. Cathy and was equally eager to see Rick again. He seemed vastly different from his brother and the entire family dynamic intrigued her to no end. On one hand her attraction to Fitz was unlike anything she had experienced before- yet on the other she knew once she crossed this line, she could never go back. If anything were to happen between them it would undoubtedly affect her job with the home health agency she loved working for.

Her current predicament kept her deep in thought for the reminder of the drive and when her cell vibrated she welcomed the distraction. The text message was from her cousin, Monica, who also lived in Houston. She wanted to get together with Olivia that night and her offer didn't come as a surprise. Monica was her closest cousin so anytime she was in the Houston area they would always find time to reconnect.

Olivia responded to the text accepting the invitation and glanced at her luggage in the backseat. She packed way more clothes than she needed but didn't care. Houston nightlife was always interesting and a girls night out on the town with her closet relative was exactly what she needed.

It didn't take long for her navigation to indicate her exit would soon be approaching. Butterflies filled her stomach at the thought of seeing Fitz again. The last time they spoke he sounded desperate and deep down she felt naive offering her services in such an open manner.

What this a mistake? Would her heart pay the ultimate price?


Rick's eyes opened and he surveyed the room trying not to make any sudden movements. The last thing he remembered, Michonne was seated next to him on the bed discussing details of her returning to work. They must have both fallen asleep and much to his amusement she was snuggled up next to him, her arms fully intertwined with his.

Her head was within inches from his mouth and he knew the second she realized what had actually happened, she would overreact- most likely shutting down altogether. Sunlight peered through the curtains and from the looks of things, Rick guessed it was fairly early morning. The only part of his body that moved was his eyes and he overly strained them trying get a glimpse of her.

A few solids minutes passed when he gave up and tried to decide what his next move should be. Unfortunately, the decision was made as his cell began to ring next to his bedside startling Michonne awake. Like any police officer, she jolted out of bed, quickly gathering her bearings. It didn't take long for her to realize she indeed slept in the same bed with Rick and from the look on her face, he knew she was completely mortified.

"Are you going to answer that?" She snapped, avoiding direct eye contact.

Rick slowly reached for his phone and answered keeping his eyes on Michonne.

Fitz informed him Olivia was in town and would be by to check on him later that afternoon. Michonne was scheduled to have already left and he wanted to be certain Olivia would be able to get inside when she arrived.

"The spare key is under the flowerpot," Rick answered. "Michonne's on her way out now. She overslept."

His caddy remark finally got her attention and she darted a death stare in his direction before storming out of the room. He soon ended the call and tried to ease himself out of bed, not wanting to ask for help. To his surprise, his joints felt better and no dizziness appeared. He was halfway to the restroom when Michonne peeked from from around the corner making certain he made it to the bathroom in one piece.

"I'm leaving you some breakfast and your meds if you need them. Promise me you won't try anything stupid while I'm gone."

Michonne was now outside the door in full uniform and although Rick couldn't see her, he could only imagine the look on her face. Her voice was harsh and just as he suspected, she was completely ignoring the fact they literally slept together in the same bed for the first time.

"Goodbye, Michonne," Rick replied, sounding more like a robot than a human being. He actually felt good for the first time since the accident and he wasn't going to allow her insecurities to ruin his mood.

By the time he finished freshening up his best friend was nowhere to be found. The house was silent and suddenly felt odd being left alone in someone else's house. As promised, a tray of food was on the nightstand, along with a few prescriptions given by the ER doctor he saw after the accident. He actually made it back to bed with no problems whatsoever and he couldn't have been more relieved.

The clock on the wall flashed 9:30 and he decided to call his mother and check on her first night spent in Houston. Her cell went straight to voicemail and when he reached over to return his phone to the table he heard a shuffle in the doorway.

"Rick...its me. Don't get trigger happy."

Rick rolled his eyes at Fitz's words and sat up straighter in bed. He was surprised his brother stopped by and hoped all was well with Catherine. It was obvious he used the spare key Fitz told him about and let himself in.

"Two visits in less than 24 hours...must be my lucky day."

His sarcasm was thick and Fitz sauntered into the bedroom with a confident swag that irritated Rick.

"You look better," Fitz replied, eventually sitting down in the empty chair across from the bed.

Fitz wore a pinstriped suit and looked exactly like the blood sucking lawyers Rick loathed. Everything about Fitz's profession got under his skin and seeing him dressed in his $1000 suits bothered him more than he cared to admit.

"Today's a better day," Rick truthfully responded.

The two men stared at one another for a few moments and the longer Fitz remained silent, the more anxious Rick grew. He knew his brother well and it was never a good sign when Fitz took a while before sharing his true motive.

"We need to clear the air," Fitz began crossing one leg over the other.

Rick slowly inhaled and shook his head with agitation.

"Do we." It wasn't a question.

Fitz nodded his head up and down in agreement and Rick watched him intertwine his fingers before setting his hands on the edge of his knee.

"I need to make certain you stay on your best behavior while Olivia's here."

Rick's eyes widened and he didn't hesitate showing how offended his comment left him.

"Excuse Me!" Rick nearly shouted. "What the fuck does that even mean?"

"It means I really like her. It means you better not say anything that could scare her away."

It was the exact wording Rick threatened Fitz with a few weeks back. Words Fitz replayed in his mind nearly a hundred times. Rick could feel his blood pressure rising and the pit of his stomach began twisting in knots. Damn his brother and his egotistical ways. Of course all this was about a woman. It always was.

"Get out. NOW-"

"I don't want to fight with you!" Fitz interrupted, cutting Rick off. "I'm asking you, brother to brother. Because I really, really like her-"

"You don't even know her!" It was his turn to now interrupt Fitz.

"I'm sure it's nothing compared to the way you feel about Michonne."

Rick's eyes widened for the second time that morning and he was actually left speechless. This was classic Fitzgerald Grant- smug, cocky and a complete dick.

"You're crossing a dangerous line, Brother."

"I'm being honest. And if you would let your guard down for one goddamn second!"

His voice rose with the last two words and both men now glared at one another, neither of them really listening to what the other way saying. A long, painful silence filled the room and when Rick was certain Fitz wasn't going to say anymore, he finally spoke letting him know just how serious he was regarding the woman he'd fallen in love with.

"Keep Michonne out of your mouth."

"Done. Now, keep Olivia out of yours." Can we at least agree to that?"

Rick stared at his brother uncertain of what to make of all this. He honestly never heard him speak so seriously about a woman before. It was weird and uncomfortable and he couldn't help but feel so angry about the entire situation.

"Get out, Fitz," Rick finally breathed, closing his eyes. He suddenly felt too weak to argue and craved peace and quiet.

He heard his brother stand and briefly felt something on the edge of the bed but didn't open his eyes. All of this was so unexpected, he didn't even know where to begin. When the door closed he finally opened his eyes and caught glimpse of an envelope on the edge of his bed.

Eventually he composed himself and reached for the small object, slightly straining from having to adjust his body.

The envelope was old and discolored, with a postmark from 1972. The handwriting on the front was his father's and it was addressed to his mother, Catherine.

Rick had no idea why his brother would leave him a card like this. The more he read his mother's name and address, the more curious he became. An eternity seemed to pass when he finally decided to open the envelope pulling out the card from the inside. The card itself was vintage and had only two lines written. The words took him off guard only because it was an obvious love letter meant for their mother. Reading it felt like an invasion of privacy and as he read the following words over and over again his heart grew heavy- his mind thinking only of Michonne.

Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be.


Morning soon turned to afternoon and Michonne stared at the clock wishing time would slow down. Her shift was ending in a few hours and she simply wasn't ready to face Rick. She couldn't believe she was so careless the night before. It was not like her to behave in this manner and she was more embarrassed than anything else.

She sat in her squad car in the middle of downtown Houston staring at her dashboard. It had been a whirlwind of a day and it was the first moment she was able to concentrate on the inevitable. The hum of her radio made the only noise and just as her mind began to replay waking up next to Rick, her cell chimed loudly breaking her concentration.

Michonne looked down and read the message, instantly turning on the ignition.

The words, "I need you to come home," flashed across her screen and seconds later she was crossing over two lanes of traffic headed towards her house. It was nearly 2:00 and Olivia must have been to her house by now to check on Rick. Her mind immediately went into worst case scenario and without thinking her foot pressed firmly down on the accelerator.

Her squad car flew down the highway and minutes later she signaled towards the next exit. Part of her was relieved Rick needed her some how...but she couldn't help but wonder if there was some type of problem with Olivia. She hated knowing she was there but was way too proud to show it. As a woman, it was her deepest insecurities coming alive and for the next few minutes she desperately tried to get her mind clear.

When she finally arrived, no unfamiliar cars were in the driveway. She checked her phone again and didn't have any more messages from Rick. A unsettled feeling suddenly came over and she parked her police car in the driveway eager to see what her summons entailed.

Michonne wasted little time entering her home only to find Rick dressed and sitting on the sofa. His belongings were stacked neatly on the coffee table in front of him and he appeared to have showered and was freshly shaven. His hair was damp and his curls dropped around his skin in the most handsome manner.

She took a long drawn out breathe before ultimately closing the door behind her. Rick looked serious, handsome and somewhat on a mission. Those three emotions were a deadly combination and she knew with all her heart whatever this attitude was about- it had nothing to do with Rick's health.

"One of us is quitting the force," Rick bluntly stated.

His voice was heavy and if she didn't know better, she would have guessed there was a good chance he had been drinking.

"So that's why you needed me to come home? Needed to share your career change?"

Michonne's blood turned to ice - she loathed confrontations like this.

"If that's what it takes...yeah. I guess I do need to share."

"What on earth are you talking about, Grimes?"

Michonne was beyond annoyed and had no clue was Rick was trying to insinuate.

She watched Rick reach into his pocket and grab a small envelope throwing it onto the coffee table. After a few seconds passed, she looked at the front before opening the card and reading the contents inside. Her eyes filled with tears at the words and she looked back at Rick who was now leaning forward resting his elbows on his legs.

"For years you've kept me at arms length because we work together. It's time one of us quit, so who's it gonna be? And I'm not leaving here until it's decided. Enough is enough, Michie. Everything that I want is sitting right in front of from me. And I know it's what you want, too."

Rick spoke slow...confidently and without hesitation. Michonne couldn't move, and sat frozen desperately trying to process his ultimatum. He couldn't possibly mean all this. Neither would be happy quitting their jobs and the more she thought about what he was proposing, the more upset she became.

"How could you know what I want, Rick? Because right now, you're telling me how it's gonna be."

"Fine," Rick conceded, practically throwing his hands into the air. "I'll give my notice tomorrow."

Rick stood and picked up his belongings, slowly making his way to the front door.

"What happens if we don't work out? Then what? I loose my best friend!"

Her words spilled out a mixture of anger and despair causing Rick to stop in place. Michonne couldn't even look at him. She was conflicted- hopeful but scared, her heart simply unable to let go and take a chance on love.

"Sounds like you're losing me no matter what."

His voice was harsh and Michonne stood but no words were able to come out. Rick was now at the door- completely fed up. He knew cracking Michonne would be difficult but this was beyond anything he was prepared for. His heart was becoming blinded by his ego and he knew before he finally left he needed to say one more thing. He didn't look at Michonne when he spoke, instead keeping his eyes on the ground below.

"I love you, Michie. I've loved you for a long time."

Rich opened the door and to his surprise it quickly slammed shut by an arm than flew past him. He turned to face Michonne and could see the anguish written all over her face. Her yell was harsh and loud and it hurt him seeing her so angry.

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"

Rick took one step forward and despite being covered in bruises, Michonne couldn't help but think he was perfect. He literally was the man of her dreams but her fear was paralyzing and she couldn't seem to get out of her own way.

They now stood inches from one another and Rick's blue eyes were relentless, boring straight into her. What came next felt foggy and even though she kept her eyes open, she couldn't believe her lips were meeting his for the first time. Rick slowly reached for her hand and they linked fingers as he gently deepened the kiss.

Her womanly instincts were quick to kick in and the moment her eyes closed Rick went all in, pulling her closer into him. His lips were soft she found his smell intoxicating. It didn't take long for her arms to wrap around him and when their tongues met for the first time everything inside grew warm and she realized he was right...everything she did want was right in front of her.

Together they were the perfect balance and when they finally came up for air her body was pressed against the door with no recollection of how she even got there.

The corners of her mouth turned downward into a frown and Rick smiled pressing his forehead against hers. It was the most emotion he'd seen that day and he knew it was a tipping point in their time together. She was on the verge of tears and that was good thing. It meant she was giving them a chance and that's all Rick could hope for.

"I guess we're doing this," she whispered, her heart now in full and total control.

Rick's smile widened and he kissed her gently once more nodding his head in agreement.

"I guess we are."


Olivia checked her watch before returning her attention to her reflection in the mirror. It was early in the evening and she was getting ready for a night on the town with Monica. Her day had gone exactly as planned and she couldn't have been more pleased.

Not only did she have a good visit with Catherine but her short time with Rick could not have gone better. He was beyond cordial and incredibly grateful to Olivia for her care where his mother was concerned. Fitz was never mentioned by either one of them and it actually was a huge relief.

The uneasiness she felt earlier disappeared and she was actually glad she decided to make the trip. Her mind was made up - her visit had real purpose. She was helping a family in need...helping them face some unique circumstances. This had nothing to do with Fitz.

The bottom line was, if Olivia repeated this mantra enough, her mind would soon believe it.

Once the finishing touches were made, she grabbed her clutch and hotel key and left her room. After her visit with Catherine, she decided to book a room and stay in the same hotel. It was in the heart of downtown, beautiful and within walking distance to all the major shuttles. She had never stayed in a place so extravagant and treating herself to a little getaway deserving.

Staying alone also kept her from having to explain her visit and even though she was keeping the truth from her family, she wasn't technically lying so it felt like a win-win.

Olivia checked her reflection once more in the mirror in the hallway before entering the elevators. She wore a casual spaghetti strapped dress with elegant heels and kept her hair down. Her bangs were longer than usual and she found herself sweeping them to the side from time to time. Her lipgloss was subtle and she was pleased with her overall look. It was city-chic and she blended well in her newly found surroundings.

The ride down to the first floor was short and just as the ding sounded indicating her arrival, she reached into her sparkling clutch and pulled out her cell phone. She exited the elevator keeping her eyes on the small screen below and ran directly into a warm body head on. Just as she was going to apologize for not paying attention to where she was going her eyes widened at the sight before her.

Standing directly in front of her was Fitz who seemed rather amused by the entire occurrence. His smirk explained it all and Olivia took several steps backwards trying to regain her composure.

"I am so sorry!"

Traces of her lipstick could be seen on Fitz's stark white shirt and she couldn't believe she had been so careless. Her eyes fixated on the mark and she couldn't help but wonder if he had any idea about the stain. His eyes twinkled and his smile was contagious leaving Olivia nearly laughing at his reaction.

"My mom said you left hours ago," he inquired. It was obvious he wondered why she was still in the hotel.

"I did," she confirmed, shuffling her feet from side to side. "I'm actually on my way now to meet my cousin for dinner." She was purposely being vague and hoped Fitz didn't press any further.

"Are you staying here?" Fitz asked, not caring that she appeared to want privacy. He was standing directly in front of her not giving her much room to pass.

Olivia found his confidence unnerving and she tried to ignore his charm by stepping aside in attempt to walk past him. He wore dark pin striped slacks and carried his suit jacket over his arm. It was sexy and such a turn on Olivia couldn't get away from him fast enough.

"It was good seeing your mom," she responded, not answering his question. "She's looks well. And so does Rick. I think the vertigo is behind him. If you'll excuse me, I need to get going. I'll be by first thing in the morning to see Catherine."

She spoke over her shoulder and began to make her way towards the large glass revolving gold doors.

"Wait," Fitz pleaded, trying his best to catch up with Olivia. She was several steps ahead of him and clearly not waiting around to make small talk.

"I didn't mean to pry...I could've sworn you had mentioned you were staying with family when we last spoke. My mistake."

Olivia was halfway down the lobby when she stopped again to face Fitz. Her heels were loud and echoed through the large lobby, causing several bystanders to stop and look in their direction.

"I'm really in a hurry," Olivia lied, trying her best to remain cordial.

She hated the fact he knew she was staying at the hotel and hoped he didn't get the wrong impression. Doubt began to enter her mind and she once again questioned why in the world she was there in the first place. This man she had a crush on was standing right in front of her and now that she had his full attention she couldn't get out of his presence fast enough.

The air between them began to shift and Fitz couldn't stop staring. She looked beautiful and even though she was doing him a great deal of service by being here, he wished more than anything he could just remain in her presence. Unfortunately, her face didn't seem to share a mutual feeling and he had no choice but to back off, his pride undoubtedly wounded.

"Of course. I'm sorry to keep you," he responded, clearing his throat. He stepped back and shared a last few words before returning towards the elevators.

"Thank you again for being here. Catherine couldn't be happier."

Olivia closed her eyes for a brief moment and instantly regretted her behavior. She was rude and there was simply no excuse for it. It wasn't Fitz's fault she ran into him. The fact she was even staying in the same hotel as his mother was ridiculous and for a woman who appeared to have her life in complete order she couldn't explain why she felt so disconnected.

Without thinking further she spun on her heels and pushed what just happened out of her mind. Ever since she met him, it was as if she wasn't thinking clearly and tonight was no different. She needed air and time to think and a night out would give her just that. A night out would give her purpose, keeping her from thinking about all her mistakes. It would also keep her from thinking about men.

Men like Fitzgerald Grant.