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Chapter III


As the seconds fade, Rick starts to regret taking Shane's advice to return to the dating market. He knows his brother means well, but he doesn't feel ready to jump into anything. Prior to Michonne, Rick started to believe that love wasn't a thing meant for him. He simply had a certain detachment to a relationship, and his emotional restraint made it easy to marry Lori. Therefore, when Michonne happened, he didn't know how to deal with all he felt.

Now, the situation is different. He knows how it feels to be in love, and the knowledge makes it hard to return to normalcy. Although, he has to try tonight because Shane has ambushed him. He quickly finger-combs his hair as he makes it to the table of the bar, which Shane believes to be the appropriate venue for a date. In truth, the bar is smoky and dark. Shane is definitely trying to get Rick laid.

"You must be Rosita," Rick says a form a greeting when he finally locates the table amidst the layer of different smoke.

Rick looks around, and he is uncomfortable with the crowd. The music is too loud, and Rick will rather be on his sofa watching a soccer game while Judith and Carl decide who can be the loudest. He has to see through layers of smoke, and his eyes start to itch. He has no idea what Shane tried to achieve, but he hopes that blindness wasn't the aim.

"You must be Rick. Shane didn't exaggerate." Rosita replies with a languorous smile, which Rick returns with a stern smirk.

Rick sits at the table, and he calls for the waiter. He is not ready to start a conversation nor is he eager to spend his time into an ashtray. The silence stretches as soon as the waiter leaves, and Rick stares at his beer. He knew it was a bad idea. He has copies to grade. He has a class to prepare for his fourth-year students. To summarize, he will rather be anywhere than in this table.

"This is awkward…" Rosita breaks the silence with a long sigh, and she glances at Rick expecting an answer.

"Sorry…" He does not know what to say to make the moment less heavy and awkward, "I'm not really into the entire thing or …you." He deadpans without a second thought.

Rick takes a minute to realize the rudeness of his statement. He needs to spend less time with Judith and more time with adults. He is clearly picking up her bluntness and lack of filter. Rosita cocks an eyebrow, and Rick doesn't know how to come back from that statement.

"Okay …Euh …okay." Rosita finds herself speechless.

What is the adequate answer for honesty? She settles on a simple smile and confusion. Rick feels bad for his lack of tact, and he starts profusely to apologize.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way... I have a four-year-old daughter, and her lack of filter is rubbing off on me… I didn't mean it in that way… This is awkward," Rick stops trying to fix the situation, and he swallows the next set of embarrassing excuses.

He grabs his bottle of beer, and he takes the longest sip possible to quiet himself. He peers at Rosita, and she doesn't look as offended as she should be. A small smile spreads across her lips, and the smile turns into a genuine laugh. His embarrassing rambling excuses have an unexpected effect.

"It was awkward, but I think it is a tiny bit better now." She reassures Rick.

He looks at her, and Rick must admit she is gorgeous. Very typical beauty, but still gorgeous enough to make a man feel in her presence. Rick relaxes, and her laugh is contagious. He soon joins her.

"I truly didn't mean it that way. You're gorgeous, and being into you is the natural course of action…but I'm here under duress because Shane is taking pity on my recluse lifestyle," Rick finishes with a lot more ease.

"Apology accepted." She says as her laugh progressively dies.

Rosita takes a sip of her rum coke, and she taps on Rick's hand to assure him that his honesty didn't hurt her.

"We have one thing in common already. We're both here under duress. Truthfully, Shane insisted. You're handsome, and I thought I could give you a chance," Rosita explains.

"Don't tell me that he made me look like some charity case and begged you to help me." Rick questions half-serious and half-teasing.

Rick wouldn't put it past Shane to make him sound like a desperate man in need of love. Rick lack of sexual life has monopolized Shane's focus, and incidentally, Rick has started to question his celibacy. With two children, social life hasn't been Rick's priority.

Contrary to what Shane might fear, Rick isn't going through another depression. The sexual aspect of his life has decreased because he has a demanding toddler and not because he has no desire. Rick has moments when he is horny. However, he hasn't reached the point of despair.

"Believe me I'm not here out of pity, far from it. He did get me here under false pretences. I don't think I'm the one who you could actually connect with tonight." She corrects Rick misconception.

"Shane is really a poor matchmaker. I don't think that you're interested in a college professor, who is also a widower with two demanding children. Are you?" Rick says with a touch of derision.

The date isn't the catastrophe, which he anticipated it to be, but it is also far from a success. Rick has no idea how Shane thought this could amount to anything. Although, after this, he can convince Shane to leave his love life alone.

"He lured me with your looks, but we're definitely on a different lane. I'm not searching for anything serious, and with two children, I assume that you must be after a wife and a mother for them. The college professor thing actually won you some points. We all have fantasies about a teacher, who looks as good as you do," Rosita saucily says, and her glance at Rick betrays how she feels. " I mean…" She runs her tongue along her lower lip with a subtle sensuality.

A serious relationship may not interest Rosita, but Rick Grimes has her attention. Rick doesn't miss it, and he gives it a thought. The last woman with whom he had sex was Michonne, and Five years is a long period of abstinence. Rick is flesh, and the flesh is weak and demanding.

"You got that a bit wrong. I'm definitely not searching for a wife, and the fun part can be tempting... Hearing those fantasies sounds even more tempting," Rick seductively suggests.

There is a second of silence when the tension increases. Rick hopes that he didn't wrongfully interpret what Rosita said. He considers apologizing for his forwardness. Although, he perfectly feigns nonchalance. Rosita checks Rick, and she tries to assess him. Rick is on the verge to apologize when Rosita rises from her chair, and she extends her hand for Rick to take.

"So you want fun… I can suggest something if you like."

….

….

….

Rick is going with the flow, and he hardly makes it through the door with Rosita running her mouth on his neck. He tries to drown the thoughts, but they return with vengeance. His memories resurface at every caress by Rosita, and he will rather have other hands on him. He eagerly wishes that other lips were adorning his jaws with kisses.

He doesn't like the sloppiness of Rosita's kiss. He doesn't like her assertiveness. He doesn't like how her tongue twists, and there are too many teeth. The amount of passion, which he throws in the kiss, is to silence the complaint of his mind. He pushes Rosita into a wall, and he tempers her ardours with slower kisses. Although, he regrets that mistake, as he starts to compare every detail to standards, which are unfairly set.

Rosita doesn't taste right. Her moans are too guttural. Her skin is more on the salty side, and the texture isn't the same. When his finger run along Rosita's arm, the scent of lilac doesn't cling on them. As hard as he tries to prevent the idea to take over his mind, the thought engrains itself in every sulcus of Rick's mind.

"Oh…yeah." Rosita moans when Rick's mouth explores her neck, and his fingers start to push her collar away from her neck.

Again, the sound of her moan distracts Rick. The need in them is too needy. Her hands aren't holding his shoulder the way they should. Her waist is too wide, and Rick could go on with every that it is imperfect. She doesn't feel as if she was made solely for him to hold. His mind possesses a standard of perfection. Rosita doesn't fit the mould, and he doesn't want to think about it.

Rick wants slow kisses with precise tongue strokes. He wants her lips. He wants her taste. Sweetness with a hint of spice intoxicating him at every taste. Rick wants her scent saturating the air and clinging to his skin. He always ended up smelling like dry lilac and vanilla orchids. He wants the skin under the tip of his finger to feel like satin or the yellow river trade silk. Rick doesn't want to let the thought invade his mind, but the words are coming together to formulate it. He wants whom his mind and heart have agreed to call perfection.

"I can't…" he sighs in frustration.

He dodges Rosita's lip, and they land on his jaws. She hasn't heard his whisper, and her tongue flirts with his earlobe. Rick tenses and he tilts his head further away from Rosita's mouth. What is her problem with the sloppiness? He is being disproportionately unfair with his judgement of Rosita's caress.

"Yeah…I can't," Rick loudly laments when Rosita reaches for his belt, and she presses her lips against his.

"What are you talking about?" Rosita demands half confused, and they aren't having the same experience, "You feel so good." She moans in Rick's ear.

She kisses him again, and Rick attempts to silence his roaring preference. His kisses are more demanding, and he reaches for her ass. There lays his ultimate limit. After the greatness that Michonne's are is, he can't pretend to enjoy Rosita's one. There is the split second where his mind rebels against the aching needs of his body. All the fantasies and wet dreams, which he has ignored the last five years, resurface with violence.

Rick can't help but think of Michonne. The thought of her body pressed against his. The thought of her tongue running along the curvature of his neck is intoxicating. Her warmth mouth sucking around his earlobe while her nails scrap his scalp. Her fingers tangle in his curl, and her soft moan echoes in his ear.

"I fucking can't," Rick gently shoves Rosita away.

He buttons back his shirt, and he puts some distance between Rosita and him. He draws a deep breath, and he strives to will away those endless fantasies.

"Okay … but you seem to want it." Rosita looks down at the bulge in Rick's pant, and he felt so good in her arm.

"I want it, but…" Rick miraculously prevents those harmful words to leave his mouth. "I can't… It's too early." He settles for half a truth.

"I can't change your mind…" Rosita comes to the realization.

She drags back up the sleeves of her dress, and she straightens the hem. She looks at Rick with slight regret.

"I still have her in my system," Rick whispers for his benefit, but Rosita catches his confession.

"You must have loved her." She compassionately says while she assumes Rick is talking about Lori.

"I do," Rick regretfully admits, and he wants those feelings to fade for his sanity.

Five years hasn't disrupted the strength of those feelings. He doesn't know if he should be frustrated or appalled by the strength of his feelings. The pain, he has learned to deal with, but the hopefulness, Rick can't deal with it. Somehow, he stupidly has in the back of his head that she will walk back into his life. He needs to put an end to his delusion. He needs to move on as Michonne did.

She must have moved on with her life. Michonne must have the life, which he wanted to give her. Married with a man, who worships the ground she walks on, and he is bright enough to understand his luck to be in love with her. Rick genuinely hopes that she is happy and fulfilled. He hates the man, who occupies a spot, which he coveted. However, the consequences of loving her were hard to face.

"It's a damn shame for the rest of us ... It will get better." Rosita tries to comfort Rick.

"I guess." He replies with a small smile.

"Hit me up when you're ready…I will love to actually make those fantasies become true." She kisses him and leaves.

The thought finally settles in Rick. Rosita is not Michonne, and he can't continue to dwell on the past. Shane is right. He has to uproot Michonne out of his heart.


Michonne fights to keep her expression neutral, and the situation has started to exhaust her. Every time, the dates are as archaic as a job interview. She doesn't know Where Yvonne finds those suitors, but she doesn't want any of them near her son. From the misogynist to the classicist, the spectrum of assholes is impressive.

Aside from feeling like ground beef thrown to the vultures, Michonne has to deal with her mother's constant pressure. Michonne is looking through Andre's legal form. She has learned a life lesson, and the pain is the best teacher that exists. To be on the wrong side of power is worse than hell. Michonne didn't anticipate Yvonne paying her way to the guardianship of her son, but to undo everything will cost money and time.

Michonne doesn't have the time, and the amount of money is obtainable. Her senior partner's wife, Maggie, is a family affair lawyer, and she is looking into Michonne's case. Until Maggie legally secures a way to fight Yvonne's guardianship of Andre, Michonne has to match her mother's expectation. She isn't risking her son safety over some misguided pride. Humble yourself to rise higher or a less biblical version, look weak so you can be a Brutus to the Caesar of this world.

Michonne has seen her mother tear through people when unsatisfied, but she has never been on the other side. However, Yvonne has never seen Michonne tear through anyone, and Michonne has never had a reason before her mother's threats. Like Caesar, Yvonne won't see that blow come. Sacrifice for the family's sake.

Michonne placates a smile on her lips as she approaches Yvonne and her guest. She walks to the table, and she leans to kiss her mother's cheek. She turns to face the new suitor, who her mother found, and he is slightly younger than the previous men were.

"Michonne, this is Spencer Monroe. You have met his mother once or twice." Yvonne introduces Michonne to her new suitor.

Michonne keeps her smile in place, and she doesn't care for the detail such as his name or his facial features. With every date, she tries to gain time to work through her legal conflict. If her mother is busy matchmaking, she won't have the time to watch Michonne's moves.

From the misadventures of Andre's legal right, Michonne has learned her lesson. Yvonne plays the game thinking several moves ahead, and she doesn't bother about emotional attachment. She will ruin everyone standing in her way, and Michonne can't be naïve. If she loses her son to the system, she will have no way to track Andre.

Michonne's decision to ask Sasha to renounce her legal right on Andre was naïve. She didn't anticipate her mother taking advantage of the situation. She didn't know that Yvonne would stop her adoption's process. However, Michonne doesn't intend to be so naïve. Rebelling and entering into a power struggle with Yvonne is the ultimate act of naivety. Michonne doesn't have her mother's power or connection, and she doubts her father as her mother's channel of power.

As much as she wants to distance herself from Yvonne, Michonne has learned the art of war from the woman. Play dirty while the world continues to believe that you will never wrestle in the mud. Her mother has told her that sentence thousands of times, and Michonne intends to win the war. If it is to have the rebellion crush, what is the point of showing her anger?

"Deanna?" Michonne cheerfully asks.

Her cheeks are sore from the constant smile on her lips. She doesn't want to be here. She doesn't want to go through the humiliating process. However, she can look past everything as long as she finds a way to get the right on her son back.

"Yes, Senator Monroe." Spencer proudly flashes his mother's title.

Michonne refuses to acknowledge it. A senator is at the bottom of the totem of power, which is why Spencer's mother is trying to attach him to the Barnes. Aside from Le Palais de L' Elysee, Matignon is where the power lies. Yvonne took Michel to Matignon, and Deanna expects Michonne to carry Spencer to the presidency.

"Spencer, this is my gorgeous daughter, Michonne," Yvonne proudly says, and Michonne's heart constrict.

Michonne doesn't remember the last time Yvonne genuinely felt proud of her. A mistake changed everything, and Yvonne showed a side, which she reserved for adversaries. Somehow, it took those threats against Andre for Michonne to understand that her mother sees her as an adversary. She really tried to please Yvonne as long as she could.

"I will leave you two to it," Yvonne leaves before Michonne can sit.

"Oh thank God, you're gorgeous. I was afraid to have some monstrosity forced on me." Spencer exclaims with a voice carrying extreme relief.

With Yvonne's departure, the masks of pretences fall. Michonne's smile disappears, and she reluctantly sits. Megalomaniac is the worst, and with a quick glance, Michonne determines that Spencer is narcissistic and vain.

"It wouldn't have changed much to the situation, but you make it easier to digest…" He finishes.

Spencer expects Michonne's to appreciate the compliment. Michonne calls the waiter to prevent further conversations. She asks for a glass of wine, and she will need all the ounce of alcohol contained in that glass to go through this supposed date.

"Look, this circus isn't necessary. We don't have to share a conversation." Michonne interrupts Spencer before he starts what she assumes to be a self-centred tirade

"Beautiful, Assertive…What else do you have to offer?" Spencer is amused by what he concludes to be a pretence of disinterest.

He is self-assured of his charm, and Spencer doubts that Michonne is immune to it. She cocks an eyebrow half amused with Spencer's shenanigans. In her life, only one man had the needed amount charm to turn Michonne into a blushing and blabbering fool. Although, Rick had that effect on a classroom filled with adults.

"My set of rules… A way around this mess for you and me," Michonne stoically answers, and she drains the entire of her wine glass.

If she didn't have Andre, Michonne will demand the entire bottle of wine.

"You're set of rules? That is something, which I definitely want to hear." Spencer patronizingly responds.

Michonne roles her eyes. Where does Yvonne find those boys who are pretending hard to be men? No subtlety, no charm, and no charisma to save their lives. Her mind possesses a set of standard. If she has the sincerity to admit it, Michonne is comparing.

Although she has no interest in the men, whom Yvonne tries to force onto her, Michonne is comparing each of them to who her heart and mind have declared to be perfection. The timbre of their voices lacks the hoarseness, which adds to the richness of his southern accent. Their smiles should unleash a horde of butterflies on her stomach. When they say her name, she definitely doesn't want to climb on their lap. Michonne refuses to stall on those thoughts.

"So far, I met three men, and they weren't satisfied by the offer, which I made. I will save you sometimes and go straight to the point. Aside for the political alliance, I don't intend to commit to any relationship with you," Michonne sternly explains, and she hopes that her statement will suffice to chase Spencer away from her.

"That is interesting," Spencer casually answers, and he genuinely discovers an interest for Michonne.

"As for any intimacy, I don't care where you get it. I wouldn't provide it. We hardly have to share the same space," Michonne finishes, and her poised tone adds impact to her words.

"If I'm well informed, you're the one with the impending scandal. Perhaps, Humility could be a virtue in your position." Spencer says out of growing vexation.

Michonne's haughtiness starts to weight on him, and he doesn't believe that she is immune to his charms. The fact that she supposedly pretends not to care for him irritates Spencer. He feels the need to remind her who is in a position of power.

"You're the one with unsuccessful political ambitions. How are your humility lessons going so far?" Michonne responds with a quiet voice and a smile.

"To marry you equates many advantages, but I wouldn't want a wife if she doesn't understand her duty... mostly if she is as elegant as you are. Charming you into my bed will be gratifying, and such a rebellious attitude. " Spencer says, and Michonne openly laughs.

She has met a set of arrogant fools, but Spencer makes them sound like Nobel Prize winners. Michonne genuinely laughs, and she doesn't want to challenge his delusion. However, someone has yet to win with the ghost of Rick Grimes. She has tried dating, and every time the conclusion was the same. She has yet to move on from him.

"I gather there must be a miscommunication between us. I have no use for a lover nor do I want a husband beyond the legal use of one," Michonne clarifies for Spencer.

Her words have a less corrosive impact than her soft laugh echoing against the restaurant wall. Anyone around them might have the wrong impression. They might look like a happy couple.

"You might need to reconsider." Spencer indignantly demands.

"There is nothing to reconsider. If I wanted a man, I assure you that I would not single you out as an option. Aside from a debatable attractive appearance, which your ego largely dampens, there is no substance to your persona," Michonne goes for the jugular.

Andre's bedtime is two hours, and she has to make it home on time. She is exhausted, and she has entertained the farce long enough to offer Yvonne's something to hold on.

"If your mother's desperation persists, I might be your most logical option," Spencer says with malice, and he hopes to offend Michonne as much as she offended him.

"We're done here," Michonne disregards his statement, and she rises from her chair.

"Oh, I assure you that we're far from being done. You have my attention, and I like it to be reciprocated."


The last thing, which Rick expects to find when he opens his door, is a blonde woman. Rick moves around her, and he doesn't care for her until she calls after him. He sighs and hopes that it is not another of Shane's attempt to shove a woman down his throat. The entire thing is exhausting because it ends in the same debacle than the night with Rosita.

He did tell his brother that he wanted to move, and Rick has never tried so hard to forget about someone. After so many failures, Rick has admitted that he can't rush the process. Therefore, Rick wants it to be gradual. He wants Michonne out of his system in a permanent manner. Consequently, he can't and shouldn't rush it. Having plaguing desire for an ex-girlfriend is far from the worst fate, and the worst fate is having utopic dreams about a happy life with an ex-girlfriend. Fortunately, Rick suffers from both ailments.

"You must be Shane's brother?" She asks when Rick steps back.

"I'm Rick," He pushes the annoyance out of his voice.

He will save his annoyance and frustration for Shane. Rick questioningly stares at the woman, and he checks his watch to determine how many minutes he has to spare.

"I know…I didn't mean it like that…I'm Jessie," Jessie stutters and blushes under Rick's scrutiny.

She looks at Rick to check for suspicions, and he doesn't seem to be onto her. She breathes a sigh of relief. Obviously, she knows that his name is Rick. Since the Grimes move in the building, Jessie hasn't been able to take her eyes away from Rick. She has done the needed detective work, and she knows that he is a widower with two children. She needed three months to find the confidence to approach him.

"Okay…Do you need help with something?" Rick doesn't mean to be abrasive, but he has a class to teach in an hour.

Jessie peers at Rick, and she loses her eloquence. For three weeks, she has worked on scenarios. She has chosen the mid-tight length flowery summer dress, which she is wearing. She decided on a French braid with loose tendrils framing her face. However, Jessie didn't have an answer to Rick's simple question. Love didn't happen at first sight as it did with her. Rick has more interest for his watch.

"Yes and No… I don't want to bother you." She stammers, and each word, which she says is a miracle.

"That is ok…What do you need help with?" Rick attempts to rush the conversation.

"I just moved in, and there are not many Americans in the building." Jessie hesitates on how to pursue her lie in the most credible manner, "You see, I actually moved to Bueno Aires after my divorce, and it is a fresh start… Why am I telling you this?" She stops with an embarrassed laugh.

"People like to tell me things about their lives," Rick absentmindedly answers, and he checks his watch to push into Jessie's mind that he doesn't have time.

He doesn't want to be rude with an obviously nice woman. However, he has a class to teach, and Rick doesn't understand the essence of their conversation.

"You inspire trust…I mean…I have children, and they will love interacting with other kid that speak English." Jessie corrects after a confused look from Rick.

She will not make all her progress today, and she has covered this point in her planning.

"Look, I'm running late… I will talk to you later," Rick gives up on politeness as the minutes pass.

"I will hold you up to that..." Jessie responds with a voice filled with disappointment, but she tries to mask her emotions with an awkward laugh. "Rick?" She calls when he starts to walk away.

"Yeah…something else," Rick asks above his shoulder.

"I'm having a dinner to meet my neighbours, and so far you're the friendliest." The words miraculously form credible lies, and Jessie is proud of her fast thinking.

She knows Rick Grimes is the perfect man for her. A wealthy widower with two young children, he must be vulnerable. Jessie wants to find a father for her sons or at least someone better than her ex-husband does. From the moment that she saw Rick move in her building, she felt so attracted to him.

"Yeah…okay," Rick answers unaware of what he has agreed to, and Rick's focus is on his next class.

"See you tomorrow night then…" Jessie joyfully says while she heads from the elevator.

"What?" Rick asks confused about seeing Jessie tomorrow.


Michonne sternly stares at her mother, and she wonders why Yvonne chose to invade her apartment. Michonne doesn't even know how the woman found the address. Yvonne looks around her daughter's apartment, and she nods in agreement. Michonne's new job financially covers her, but her father refuses to let her pay for anything.

Somehow, Michel has so much guilt concerning the situation with Michonne's hiding Andre. For that same reason, Michonne doesn't want to worsen the situation with the dirtiest part of the story. In addition, she doesn't want to put her father in a crossfire. When people say Yvonne took Michel to Matignon, they don't exaggerate the facts. The same way she made him, Michonne is afraid that she will ruin.

"You've postponed long enough, cherie." Yvonne softly laments as she sits on Michonne's sofa.

Her posture, as usual, is regal, and her voice has regained the maternal warmth, which it lost when Michonne announced her pregnancy. Somehow, Michonne's false obedience has returned her in Yvonne's good grace.

"I have my conditions, and I agreed to everything you wanted," Michonne swallows her venom, and she returns her mother's smile.

Maggie has started to make progress with the case, and Sasha may be able to reclaim her right. Since the person who she renounced them for couldn't receive guardianship. Maggie foresees many months of legal back and forth, and Michonne is trying to win those months by keeping Yvonne pleased.

" Don't be dramatic and make it look as if it is the worst happening thing happening in your life," Yvonne chastises her daughter, and the hardness present in her voice for the last days has completely disappeared, " I get it you must have all those naïve dreams of love. I supposed that it is how that man took advantage of you. For the same reason, I hope you can comprehend pragmatism." She reaches from Michonne's cheek and caresses it.

"Mother, he didn't take advantage of me. I consented and was careless." Michonne corrects her mother.

In weeks, she didn't contradict Yvonne. However, Michonne doesn't want a victim portrayal when she was never one. She initiated their first time, and she turned what could have been an isolated incident into a relationship. Did she demand anything from Rick? Yes, she demanded his time, and she took it. She demanded his affection, and he gave her too him the best he could. She demanded his love at some point, but the demand was beyond what Rick could offer. Did he make promises to her? No, but he tacitly led her to believe that he loved her.

The blame rests on her shoulder as much as it rests on his. Does she resent him? Michonne resents Rick more than she has ever resented anyone in her life. She wanted a life with him even as she claimed to know that it was impossible. Sometimes, she is stupid enough to want a life with Andre and him. Does she blame him for ruining her? She has blamed him for everything worth blaming.

"We need to have a small engagement party." Yvonne disregards her daughter statement.

There is no point to revisit any point of contentions when she has what she wants from her daughter.

"Do as you see fit, mother," Michonne responds with a complete lack of interest for what Yvonne says.

"Where is your son?" Yvonne asks after long minutes of silence

"Mother?" Michonne can't hide her surprise.

In five years, Yvonne has never shown any interest for her grandchild. When Michel visits, she is coincidentally busy. The amount of resentment, which she has against Andre, has no explaining ground. For a second, Michonne doesn't know how to feel. There is that false sense of comfort, and months of open conflict hardly erase years of nurturing. Although, Michonne doesn't let herself believe a return to normalcy.

"I haven't met him, and I think that it is high time," Yvonne continues with unexpected excitement.

"He is sleeping, but if you don't mind waiting," Michonne hesitates as she answers.

In one hand, she wants to keep Yvonne far away from Andre. In another hand, a ridiculously small part of Michonne wants her mother to see that she can produce something beautiful. Nothing is as beautiful as her son is. Andre is Michonne's greatest love, and she would want to share it with her mother. She will want to share that with the entire world.

"I will have a meeting schedule, and we will introduce him to his future father as well," Yvonne minds waiting, and so she stands to leave.

With her parting words, Yvonne leaves Michonne with the strongest emotion, whichever felt. She is not letting that narcissistic power-hungry woman come near her son. Everyone is a stepping-stone for Yvonne.


After staring at Rick for a few minutes, Shane can't establish if he loves misery or if their mother dropped him on the head. All his efforts wasted on an idiot. Frustrated, Shane taps the back of Rick's head. Rick groans and he dodges the next slap.

"Perhaps, you should go after her," Shane says after many considerations.

He replaced Rick's empty bottle of beer with a new one. He drains his own beers and sinks in the couch next to his brother. Shane waits for Rick's reaction to his statement.

"Who?" Rick plays dumb, and it earns him another tap on the back of the head.

"Your precious student," Shane deadpans with a Cheshire grin.

"Shane?" Rick chastises his brother.

Judith and Carl are around the house, and he doesn't want his children finding of his past through their uncle's loose mouth. There is no day in the year when Rick doesn't regret sharing things about his relationship with Michonne with his brother. He never knows if Shane wants him to move on from Michonne or if he wants Rick to travel around the world to find Michonne.

"You haven't moved on from her. You moved on from your dead wife, but that lil student, you couldn't let go. Your dick gets hard just thinking about her name." Shane attempts to prove his point in his usual vulgar fashion.

Rick sighs and he doesn't bother reminding Shane of the presence of his children around the house. Since they have started to watch soccer religiously, Shane has more reason to be in Rick house. For Rick, it means endless suggestions about his love life, and for Rick's children, it means learning new inventive swearing words. Rick can't decide what annoys him the much, and it varies depending on the days. Today, Shane is extraordinarily himself.

"I'm in a whole ass committed relationship. I think that's moving on from someone," Rick calmly counters Shane.

When Rick notices that Shane's swearing habits have started to rub off on him, He regretfully sighs.

"You're going to break that poor blonde's heart." Shane sternly says, and the blonde woman is not his concern.

"I won't, this is really serious between us," Rick refuses to have the same argument with his brother.

"One day, your naughty student will walk back into your life, and you won't give a shit about the consequences. That poor blonde will be collateral damage. When she goes all psycho on you for running back to the only pussy your dick truly wants, don't say I didn't warn you," Shane accuses Rick with an all-knowing tone.

Quantum physics is unnecessary to come to this logical conclusion, and Rick will never be over Michonne. After so many failures to hook Rick up with a good number of attractive women, Shane has accepted that universal truth. The only nonbeliever is Rick. The man who is still comparing every breathing woman to his lost mistress. The same man who has entire weeks of isolation when anything reminds him of Michonne. Although, Shane refrains from twisting the knife.

"I was a fool once, and now I can't live it down. I have restraint, and I know the consequences," Rick replies, and his annoyance increases.

"You're being a fool right now. Do you even love the blonde?" Shane asks in disbelief at Rick's stubbornness.

"Jessie…" Rick stalls and he knowingly glares at Shane.

The question was a move below the belt. Shane knows the answer to his question, and he asked it to prove a point. Rick doesn't dare to lie, and so he takes a long sip of his beer. Shane takes a sip of his beer too, and his look of victory silences Rick for a minute.

"Her name doesn't matter. What matters is that she won't survive those comparisons to Michonne. Jessie cornered you with that basic ass sob story. She fed you seasoned bullshits, and you ate it up like caviar. You're such a captain save a hoe." Shane says with resentment for his brother's girlfriend

He knows when a narrative has an aim. Jessie's difficult past has left him unfazed, but his dutiful brother is another story. Hero complex at its finest form is Rick's grand mal. When Rick believes that he is doing the honourable thing, to reason with him is an impossible task. Although, Shane adamantly tries because Jessie is a leech.

"I'm thinking about asking her to marry me." Rick dodges Shane's answer.

Shane looks at Rick, and he wonders if his brother learns from his mistake. Does he think he has to pick every stray? Does he not understand that marriage requires love? Shane taps harder at the back of Rick's head. Rick's common sense must be stuck at the bottom of his skull.

"You're insane. There is no way to explain it. Do you love her or do you pity her?" Shane asks in disbelief.

"I'm pragmatic. Judith was asking about her mother last week. I think they need a mother. Jessie could fit in with us," Rick doesn't pretend to have other reasons.

"Your kids hate her kids. Judith doesn't like her, and Carl tries to be polite. You pity her. If you want someone to watch after your kids, get a babysitter," Shane counters with utter frustration.

"You don't like her," Rick defensively states.

Shane cocks an eyebrow. Should he be embarrassed for seeing past the image, which Jessie tries to project? Real recognize real for lack of better largo. Shane knows women like Jessie, but Rick can be naïve when he finds a charity case.

"You got that much right. It says a lot because I'm very partial to blondes. I love them all, but I can't stand her. " Shane shamelessly stands by his opinion of Jessie.

"Nothing is set in stone. We're all going for Maggie's vows renewal. You might learn to love her during that trip or I might agree with you," Rick decides to close the argument.

They have been having the same argument since he started to date Jessie. Rick can't really say how it happened, but he found himself in a relationship. After months of friendship, which he didn't give a thought to, they were dating. Does he love her? He won't lie to himself, and she doesn't seem to see his lack of love as an obstacle for a balanced relationship. Does he like sex with Jessie? He doesn't think about Michonne during it, but he does think about her after each time. Rick has the wrong habit to settle. As long as he is comfortable, he can manage the lack of passion.

"Great, you might need to lead by example. If you start to love her, the rest of us might learn to tolerate her dullness."


Andre clings at Michonne's hip, and she understands his stress around the small crowd. She is as stressed as he is. Michonne has never been comfortable in those parties, which her mother throws for public images. Although, she has many reasons to feel sick tonight. They are celebrating her engagement to Spencer later on.

Michonne goes to hide with Andre in her old room, and she tries to talk herself through the night. Maggie is getting closer to a solution. Later, she can break any engagements, which she made tonight. Michonne tries to set Andre down, but he refused to release his grip.

"Mommy is sad," Andre says as he uses his hands to frame Michonne's face.

His little thumbs try to reach Michonne's upper lids, and he pushes them down in an attempt to wipe her imaginary tears. Michonne attempts to dodge the chubby hands smearing and smudging her eyes shadow.

"I'm okay, Andre," Michonne uses her most cheerful voice to convince her son.

Although, he sceptically looks at her for confirmation. Andre's fingers almost pock Michonne's eyes while he stubbornly tries to wipe tears who have yet to fall.

"Mommy is sad," Andre insists, and Michonne reassuring smiles aren't convincing enough for him.

There is that sadness around Michonne, and Andre can sense it. The door opens, and Michel enters the room.

"I thought I will find you here…" Michel says

"Grandpa, mommy is sad," Andre welcomes him with the statement.

Michel stares at his daughter, and he comes to similar conclusions. Michonne looks at her son, and she definitely has to teach him how to keep a secret.

"If he can see it, I think everyone in the next room can see it." Michel quietly says.

He rapidly concludes that his daughter is hiding. Michel takes a spot on the bed where Michonne and Andre sat.

"Dad?" Michonne doesn't know what to say.

"Hi, bebe and here is my beautiful grandchild." Michel reaches for Andre, and he finally let's go of Michonne.

"Mommy is sad, grandpa," Andre insists, and he hopes his grandpa has a solution.

"I can see that. Do you think she will tell me why? It is supposed to be a happy night. The man, who she loves, is going to ask her to marry him." Michel tastes the water.

His wife and daughter forget that he can be observant when his works do not preoccupy him. There is definitely something off about Michonne and the so-called love of her life Spencer.

"You love him, right?" Michel expects a sincere answer

"It's complicated," Michonne replies for lack of better words to express her turmoil.

"Yvonne has her hand in it?" Michel rhetorically asks, and he knows how pushy Yvonne can be.

"Mother is …" Michonne considers confessing everything.

However, she does not know how to break the news to her father. She is slowly solving the issue. Maggie has secured Sasha's legal rights, and everything should fall into places.

"Don't let your mother impose her archaic ideas on you. It isn't because you have a son with a man that you must marry him. If you don't love him, you don't have to do this." Michel reassures Michonne. "You should stand up to her while you can or she will continue to impose her choices on you." He finishes.

"But your image… The plan," Michonne attempts to rationalize the situation.

"The fifth republic has known worse scandal than a single mother, and it is still standing. As long as you're happy, I will be content, and your mother will deal. That should be the plan." Michel kisses Michonne's cheek, and he walks out with Andre to give her time to think.

….

….

Michonne wants to wait until Maggie confirms that nothing can happen to Andre. Michonne wants to move in the shadow until she can strike. She intended to fight fire with fire, and she might have borrowed some of Yvonne's moves. However, Michel made some valid points. She doesn't want always to fear her mother. She doesn't want to live in a state of perpetual fears. She no longer wants to compromise. Michonne no longer wants to emulate what Yvonne taught her.

"Here, I don't think I can go through this farce," Michonne returns Spencer's ring.

Her lungs feel lighter, and the weight on her shoulders disappears. All hell is about to break loose, but Michonne hasn't known such freedom in years.

"You will regret it," Spencer says as he refuses to retake the ring.

"I will regret playing along far more." She confidently replies.

Spencer looks around the room, and his distress doesn't go unnoticed. Deanna approaches Yvonne, and conversations are hushed. Yvonne watches her daughter, and she quickly closes on Michonne and Spencer.

" Michonne?" Yvonne grabs Michonne's arm.

She graciously drags her daughter away from the guests. Michel catches a glimpse of the scene, and he follows his wife and daughter.

"Don't try me," Yvonne hisses.

"Do your worst Mom," Michonne quietly replies "Threaten your grandchild all you want. You aren't going to take my son away. Feel free to try, but I'm not letting you push me down a path where you want me to go. Try to take my son away from me again and I will show you how ruthless I can be, mother. I will ruin it all. Everything, you built," Michonne pulls her arm out Yvonne's grip.

Yvonne reaches again for Michonne's arm, but Michel stands the way of Yvonne's hand. He has heard enough for his wife machination to appal him. Michel is one for quiet anger and statement. He takes a deep breath, and he reminds himself to be levelheaded.

"Let her be, Yvonne. It's her life, not yours and you did what?" Michel intervenes before Yvonne can reply to their daughter threats.

Carefully, Michel pushes Michonne behind him.

"I did what was necessary," Yvonne unapologetically replies.

"You took the legal rights that I should have on my child. You threatened to have Andre put in the worst foster homes, and you tried to force me to marry a man who I met once. What part of it was necessary?" Michonne finally loses her countenance.

The fury and frustration resurface, and she only keeps a bit of restraint because she now understands her mother's perverse nature. Yvonne will never hesitate to weaponize a benign situation.

"Yvonne?" Michel stares at his wife in shock.

Michonne's accusation ring louder with each passing second. He doesn't bother to ask if everything is true. Yvonne has many unnamable skeletons.

"I was trying to protect you and what you built," Yvonne doesn't express any remorse.

"By abusing our daughter? By offering me reasons to divorce you. What is wrong with you?" Michel doesn't even know if he wants the answer to his questions.

"I will find a lawyer to handle it, bebe," Michel tells his daughter.

"Thank you," Michonne answers.

Michel leaves the room, and he returns to their guest. Yvonne and Michonne follow him. Nothing can amend the situation. Yvonne has not renounced her vindictive position. Michonne glares at her mother, and she knows their last conversation created more conflict that resolutions. Yvonne will try to make her pay.

"Our sincerest apologies, but this engagement party is cancelled…" Michel shocks every guest in attendance.

Yvonne placates a smile on her face, and she gracefully pretends for the crowd. Michonne is simply exhausted by the night and the months, which preceded it.

"Andre, cheri, come here…" Michel calls his grandchild, "In case you haven't met Andre my grandchild and my beautiful daughter's son. I know he is adorable. If you're the curious type, you might want to know that Michonne is unmarried and as for Andre's father, we choose to keep him anonymous. " Michel brings Andre under the light.

Yvonne stares in horror, and Michonne simply feels relieved. The room is in effervescence. The secret, which Yvonne fought, is spreading from lips to lips.

"Now, you have a scandal on your hand to keep you busy and out of my daughter life."


Michonne has spent hours on the phone, and she no longer knows how to convince Glenn that she hasn't changed her mind. She places her clothes in the suitcases, and Andre proceeds to put them out. Michonne sighs and she lifts her son to keep him away from her luggage.

"You're coming, right?" for the umpteenth time, Glenn demands.

After the months that Michonne had, Glenn can only assume that she isn't too eager for a trip out of France. Things have started to fall in place, and Maggie has successful closed Andre's legal case. Since last week, Michonne is her son's legal mother. Michel backing up every of Maggie's move helped speed the process.

Yvonne hasn't one attempted to stop the process, and she kept her promises to disown Michonne. So far, Michonne hasn't attempted to amend any bridge. Michel happens to be in the middle of the women of his life conflict, but Michonne is grateful that her father hasn't demanded that she changed her mind regarding Yvonne.

"Yes, Glenn. I have my flight book, and Sasha agreed to watch Andre," Michonne answers with a slight growing annoyance.

Andre is in a cranky mood, and he does not intend to let his mother go. Andre throws out every clothes, which Michonne folds and adds in her suitcase. Michonne chastises him, and his answer is a tantrum.

"Andre could have come with you, and Maggie adores him. There will be her niece and nephew at the house, and Andre would have fit right in with Carl and Judith. He will probably fit right in with Shane too," Glenn says while he hears Andre's loud cries from the other side of the phone.

"We need the separation. He is way too attached to me for a five-year-old," Michonne, sighs, and she picks up Andre who is dramatically crying by her suitcases.

Michonne doesn't know who has taught him the art of the emotional blackmail, but he excels in it. Michonne stares at her son, and she considers cutting his time with Michel. Andre's grandfather has a tendency to give into every caprice.

"Isn't it what every parent wants," Glenn says a bit envious.

"He needs to gain some independence, and I need a break after this year. I won't have a second for me if Andre is around," Michonne replies, and she looks down at her son, who has moved his crying party from her bed to her calves.

Exhausted, she sternly stares at her son who is mimicking a dead body as soon as she looks at him. Michonne doesn't know where he gets his dramatic side. Since she told him that she will be absent for two weeks, Andre has decided to make everything hard for her. Now, he is feigning agony. Michonne sighs and she rights his head to avoid an accident.

"Andre, don't die on the floor! It is dirty," Michonne tells Andre, as he starts to lay on the ground to continue his exaggerated tragedy.

"Okay, mommy," Andre says as he stands from the floor.

He quietly proceeds to walk until Michonne's bed, and he dramatically falls on the bed. Andre continues his scene right where he stopped because of Michonne's interruption. Michonne rolls her eyes, and she returns her attention to the phone conversation with Glenn.

"Your mother hasn't come around," Glenn questions.

"After everything, she doesn't acknowledge me. I'm glad she hasn't tried to take away my son again, and dad has made sure it stays that way," Michonne replies.

"Maggie wouldn't let that happen, and your father did a good job dissuading the social service," Glenn attempts to reassure Michonne.

A week after Michonne's failed engagement, the social service came to check on Andre. An anonymous caller accused Michonne of negligence and child abuses. Fortunately, Maggie quickly resolved the situation.

"I can't believe she went so far," Michonne laments.

"It could have been the Monroe boy too. He holds quite a grudge against you," Glenn points out, and Michonne has to agree.

Spencer's ego hasn't allowed him to digest the debacle that was their failed engagement. He has issued some alarming threats against Michonne.

"You see why I need some me time." She points out.

"Definitely! Give me your arrival date, and I will gladly come to pick you up," Glenn agrees with Michonne.

"Thank you."


After ten hours of flight from Bueno Aires to Atlanta and several hours of a car ride, Rick doesn't understand why he has to suffer through this torture. He looks at Maggie, and he can believe that she will betray him that way. Rick glares at Shane, and his brother is leading the charges on Rick's triad.

"I really don't think that's a great idea," Maggie says to Rick.

"So I said, and so I said. He might listen to you. I have been saying this shit for two weeks." Shane jumps on the conversation to exaggerate the situation.

"What do you have against Jessie? She is okay..." Rick laments, and he has no proper defence in favour of his girlfriend.

The topic is starting to become repetitive, and Rick has exhausted all argumentations in Jessie's favour. Shane has started a crusade against the woman, and Rick's remaining siblings have decided to follow suit. Comes rain comes to snow, Rick has to suffer through variations of the same conversation.

Is he aware that the chemistry between Jessie and him is non-existent? Yes, He finds a comforting familiarity with the situation. He doesn't run the risk to have his heart shattered. Is he still in love with Michonne? Moving on is not as easy as he wants it to be, but he can give the illusion that he moved on from her. Rick wants to believe that he moved on from Michonne.

"Aside of the fact that she is your charity case and your atonement path for whatever sin that you chose to punish, I have nothing against her," Beth quietly says.

Rick frustratedly glares at Beth, and his look tacitly tells her that the topic is beyond her level of clearance. She is too young to have an opinion on his love life. Shane and Sasha are already complicating his days. What does it bother them so much that he likes to stay in his comfort zone?

"You don't love her. You like how familiar she feels. The same life, which you didn't want with Lori. She is a duller version of your dead wife. We all know you didn't like the first one" Shane doesn't bother to be tactful.

Maggie freezes, and she glares at an unrepentant Shane. He is not fixing Rick once the entire thing turns into a complicated mess.

"What Shane wants to say…" Maggie can't finish her sentence because Shane refuses to have his words changed to coddle his brother.

"What Shane wants to say, Shane said it." Shane stands by his opinion.

Maggie swats Shane's arm, and she checks on an unfazed Rick.

"You're trying to fix the past, and it helps that she has this baggage. The violent ex-husband who is still in the picture. Troubled kids. A charity case," Maggie continues, and her approach is gentler than Shane's one, but the facts remain.

"You shouldn't marry her," Glenn summarizes the entire argument between the Grimes siblings.

"Not you too," Rick sighs.

"Look, my friend was in your position. A single parent with everyone pressuring her to marry. She stood up for herself, and she could give you great pieces of advice on how to get rid of guilt. She should be here tomorrow," Glenn disregards Rick's annoyance with the entire conversation.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to pick Jessie at the airport. Do you want me to pick her up?" Rick tries to move away from the present topic of conversation.

"No, I promised Mimi to pick her up. She isn't the biggest fan of our country, and I had to beg to convince her to come. She won't appreciate having a stranger pick her up," Glenn rejects Rick's offer.

"Is she coming with Andre? Everyone needs to meet Andre. I haven't met a cuter kid." Maggie excitedly asks.

She adores the little boy, and Michonne's case was challenging. Although, Andre made every second of extra hours of work worth it. Maggie loves when Andre visits her office.

"Nope, she wanted some me time. You know how bad and complicated her year was. I mean you handled the case," Glenn explains to his wife.

"Can we refocus? Richard still wants to marry his girlfriend." Shane refuses to give Rick a second of peace.

"She will be a great mother for Carl and Judith," Rick sighs and he stands to leave the room.

"Is she a great mother to her kids?" Shane counters

"Shane…" Rick doesn't dignify the question with an answer.

"A legitimate question," Glenn points out.

"Glenn, please…" Rick exhaustively laments.

"Have you asked your kids if they wanted her as a mother?" Maggie adds her two cents to the conversation

"I will do it soon, and they can use this holiday to learn to know each other," Rick replies and he decides to leave the room.

"I sense drama," Beth quietly says.

"As long as it doesn't destroy my vows renewal, I can live with it," Maggie glares into Rick's direction, and the warning is silently issued.

"Nothing will happen, I promise. Carl and Judith are okay with Jessie."


Rick's phone goes on, and he quickly checks the caller Id. He puts the car Bluetooth speaker on, and he stops his conversation with Jessie. The call comes as a chance to escape a strange conversation. Sometimes, Jessie and he have those gauche conversations.

"Hey, Glenn?" Rick says with a hint of surprise.

"Are you still at the airport?" Glenn rushes the words out, and he sounds a bit desperate.

"I have just left, but I'm close enough to go back," Rick answers.

"Oh thank you, Rick," Glenn sighs with relief, and he continues, "Maggie had a stomach bug, and I can't get there on time to pick Mimi…"

Maggie has spent the day vomiting, and Glenn had to take her to the hospital. Shane, Beth, and Carl left earlier on the morning to explore the town. Glenn's remaining option is Rick.

"Mimi?" Rick asks slightly confused by what Glenn says.

After last night exhausting conversation, Rick hardly remembers what and whom his siblings mentioned. Halfway through the enumeration of grievances, Rick decided to zone out.

"She is the friend, who I needed to pick from the airport. I think her plane has just landed. If it isn't too much trouble, can you pick her up?" Glenn asks Rick.

"Does Mimi have a full name?" Rick demands as he agrees to pick her up from the airport.

"Yeah… Hold on, Rick. I have a double call." A double call interrupts Glenn when he starts to say Michonne's full name.

Rick patiently waits for Glenn to pick their call back, and he checks the back seat to see if Judith is comfortable. Jessie tells him some boring story, but Rick's mind is miles away. He suddenly remembers that Mimi is Michonne's official nickname.

"It was Mimi. She is at the terminal two. You can't miss her, and she is one of those ethereal beauties. She is wearing a deep red summer dress. Thanks again." Glenn says, and he forgets to give Michonne's full name.

"I will call you back if I can't find her with that very vague description… "


Rick can define the moment, but it is one when the time freezes while the motion of life refuses to slow its speed. His mind attempts to be reasonable, but his instinct can't be wrong. He is moved from the chore of his being. There are hundreds perhaps thousands of people around him, but his senses choose to single one person.

Rick hasn't seen her. Rick hasn't heard the sugary sophistication of her voice. Her dry lilac and vanilla orchids scent has yet to saturate the air. However, all the cells in his body, which are dedicated to awareness, are in alert. Nothing is different from the first time that he walked into a class and found her sitting in the second row. His heart has long stopped, and the sight of her will eventually send it into a series of gallops.

The world continues to move around him, and Rick must be moving too. He searches for Michonne, and he tries to catch each of her glances as he did when he walks into that class. His lungs ache, and the air bare of scent can't soothe such ache. The breaths, which he takes before ultimately breathing her, are poor palliative. She breathes life into him and influences the rhythm of his heart with an absent glance at him.

The glimpse of deep red fills the blue of Rick's eyes. The subtle scent of her, which lingers on her path, drains the air from Rick's lungs. Her skin glows under the bright led light, and his fingers itch to reconnect with the magical texture of Michonne's skin. Her hair swipes her back, and Rick remembers the hours spent with his fingers lost in her mane. Those melodic laughs, which fell from Michonne's lip every time he mistakenly had her dreadlocks tangled around his watch, drown the echo of reality around Rick.

He has seen a back, and for many, it can't be enough to identify anyone. However, Rick remembers those days when he would wait for his classroom to empty itself. Michonne always walked out last. Rick would watch her walk away with hips swinging with such grace and fluidity. The regal of her posture and the elegance of her being. Rick has every detail memorized. He has an undebatable knowledge of Michonne. Months of true intimacy have birthed that knowledge. Rick is intimate with the core of Michonne's being. The word, which leaves his lips, is a result of that intimacy.

"Baby…" The sound crawls out of the crevice of an aching heart, and it is a roaring whisper.

The sound of Rick's voice is breathy and timid. The word carries all his neediness and the rebellion against their separation. In a word, there is a sense of liberation. Six years of ostracism healed with a glance at Michonne.

"Michonne." He breathes her name with so much reverence.

"Hey…" Michonne spins as fast as the world around her does when she hears the sound of his voice.

Michonne is literally thrown out of balance, and Rick has to keep her from falling. Michonne clings on Rick, and she clings on the moment. She clings on the intensity of his look. She clings on the warmth of his hands around her waist.

The distance between them is awkwardly too present but needed for their sanity. Although, the tips of Rick boots flirt with the tip of Michonne's heel. The distance is existent and non-existent. It is a breath filled with dry lilac and vanilla orchids. The distance is a curl, which Michonne's hand returns behind Rick's ear. The distance is a soft soothing breath, which they deeply inhale in symbiosis.

Michonne unclasps her grip around Rick's shoulder, and Rick's fingers graze Michonne's bare back as his hands abandon her waist.

"Rick…" Michonne has a moment when the intensity of his presence by her side assaults her common sense, and she almost reaches for him.

"Rick, we have to rush I think you parked on the wrong spot, baby." Jessie reaches for Rick's arm.

Jessie's touch establishes the distance between Rick and Michonne. Although, the tip of their shoes continue to meet, and Rick's knuckles graze Michonne's arm as he turns to face Jessie.

"Professor Grimes." Michonne takes a step back.

PS: I know Yvonne had everyone in their feelings. However, if with functioning central nervous system someone make a choice to read a story classified as angst, I hold no responsibility on how it affects that person. Therefore, I don't need unnecessary rant on what is wrong with me and why I don't write happy stories. many thing similar.