A/N: This story is based on a Richonne Just Desserts prompt.

Rated: K

Prompt: Rick is reluctantly set up on a blind date. At dinner he finds it hard to concentrate on his date as he keeps getting distracted by the beautiful sound of a woman's (Michonne's) laugh at the table behind him

It was a first date and already things were off to a bad start. Glenn, in an effort to get Rick back out in the game, had set him up on a blind date with a woman he and Maggie had run into several times at Hershel Jr.'s school. Rick reluctantly agreed after several days of prodding and now as he sat awkwardly at their dinner table, listening to his date prattle on about… something… he found himself wishing he had stayed home with Carl and Judith.

"Don't you agree?" His date asked and he nodded automatically, trying desperately to recall the last thing she had said.

"Of course," he muttered, breathing out a sigh of relief when she beamed in satisfaction.

"I figured, considering your job," she added. "It must be hard, trying to make those split second decisions, knowing it could end with your life."

Rick hid the confusion he was experiencing and nodded once again. "Yeah, well, you know… it's part of the job…" A laugh behind him distracted him momentarily. It was a transcendent laugh that demanded his absolute attention. He caught sight of his date's anticipation and he coughed. "Yeah, um… that's why I became a cop."

She laughed. It was somewhat forced, high. "I couldn't do it. The types of people you deal with on a near constant basis. Too much stress!"

In an attempt to reciprocate her interest, Rick motioned to her. "Do you enjoy what you do?" He could not even remember what Glenn had told him about this woman. As she began to speak again, the table behind him erupted in laughter and he found his heart pounding at the sound of one specific chuckle. It was deep, sincere, and melodic, resonating within him. He needed to know who it belonged to.

Luckily for him, a clumsy waiter tripped at that moment and something crashed behind him, providing him with the excuse to turn away from his date to search for the source of the sweet laugh.

Rick's heart nearly stopped.

Sitting at the table behind him was a man and woman, both distracted by the broken wine bottle at their table. The man was helping the waiter stop the spread of the spill, while the woman was halfway out of her seat, dabbing at the dark stain on her little black dress. Her ebony skin glowed under the mood lighting and her long, exquisite fingers brushed curled dreadlocks out of her beautiful yet annoyed face.

"Oh ma'am, I am so sorry!" The waiter attempted but she shook her head and offered the man a smile.

"It's fine," she insisted, moving around her seat. "Excuse me." She moved to head to the bathroom, but as she did so, her eyes caught Rick's and she hesitated. They both stared at each other, momentarily captivated by each other. It was a brief, terrifying instant of opportunity. Open ended chances for exploration. A new world, a new adventure, a second chance to find an aspect of life that had eluded both of them for years.

And just as quickly as it happened, both Rick and his Siren with the melodic laugh and gorgeous brown eyes were pulled away from each other by their table companions.

"I hope she gets that dry cleaned," his date mused loudly in an attempt to draw him back. Reluctantly, Rick turned back in his seat and listened restlessly to the rest of her statement. Behind him, he could hear movement before a figure brushed past him on the way towards the restrooms. It was his Siren, slipping off to address her spill. Rick could not help but admire her rear, hugged generously by the tight black dress that clung to her curves in the best way possible. She glided across the restaurant floor with determination and gracefulness that betrayed some sort of classical training. It was clear that other men and a few women took great notice of her, admiring her in a way that both amused and irritated Rick. She disappeared around the corner and the room felt dimmer, colder.

"So, Glenn mentioned you had two children… a girl and a boy?"

Rick caught her eagerness to continue the conversation and sighed. "Yeah… um… Carl and Judith…" He began to provide her with basic information about his children, but the entire time he could not help but wonder when his Siren would return. After a couple of minutes, he could not take the suspense any longer and coughed. "Um… would you excuse me… I'm just gonna run over to the restroom."

His date smiled obligingly. "Of course!"

Rick did not feel much guilt in leaving her behind as he got up and headed towards the back, glancing behind towards the other table with the waiting date. He seemed engaged with something on his phone.

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

Rick reached down to gather up the dropped purse and cell phone, handing them over to his Siren, who seemed surprised by the gesture.

"Thank you," she managed when their eyes met. Once again, they were frozen, amazed and scared by the strange feeling of familiarity and attraction that struck them.

Rick motioned to her dress. "I hope your clothes aren't ruined."

Michonne shrugged, glancing down at her dress. "It'll be fine. Luckily it was just white wine."

"Right," Rick replied, enraptured by her every word. "Luckily… it's a beautiful dress." She raised an eyebrow and he blushed. "Sorry… I didn't… I just meant that you look beautiful in it." She could not help but smile and admire how attractive the man before her was as he attempted to salvage the situation. It had been a while since she was genuinely enchanted by a man. "I'm sorry… I'm not trying to… I just ran into you and I'm sure this is just tacky…"

She smirked. "Tacky, as in you flirting with me in front of the restrooms?"

Rick's cheeks turned bright red. "I'm not… Well you are a gorgeous woman, but-"

"It's okay," she assured him, rescuing him from having to continue. "It's not tacky, by the way. Just blustery."

Rick blinked and thrust out his hand without thinking. "Rick Grimes," he greeted and she felt compelled to take his hand, stifling a gasp as electricity shot up her spine as their fingers grazed in crossing.

His heart skipped a beat.

"Michonne Anthony," she replied, unable to resist the allure of the man before her. There was a sincerity in his eyes that drew her in and she wondered if it was even possible to feel such an intense attraction and connection with someone after such a brief amount of time.

"Michonne," he repeated, once again unable to stop himself from expressing himself to her. "You have a beautiful laugh, Michonne."

Stunned by his frankness, Michonne was silent for a moment, torn between continuing the conversation and dashing his hopes, and perhaps hers if she were to be completely honest. "Um… I'm here with someone, Rick," she murmured. He could have sworn he caught a hint of apology in her tone. Like she wished that fact were not true.

Realizing that he was still holding her hand, Rick released it and took a step away, needing a way to clear his head. "Yeah, of course, sorry. I shouldn't have…" He looked thoroughly embarrassed by what had just transpired, yet it was easy to see that he did not want this encounter to end. Neither did she.

"I should head back to my table," she suggested, though she made no move to return. His blue eyes held her still and despite her earlier surprise, her body felt hot under his gaze.

They held each others gazes for another minute before Michonne finally backed up as well, pointing behind her.

"Have a good evening, Rick," she whispered reluctantly. There was so much she wanted to say, but none of it felt right to express in such a setting. Somehow, she sensed he felt the same way.

"Same to you," he managed, watching as she turned to leave. "Michonne."

She stopped and looked over at him. "Yes?"

Rick offered her a lopsided grin. "Nothing," he responded. "I just wanted to say your name again."

Michonne's eyes widened briefly before her dark cheeks warmed and she smiled. Rick smiled back, leaning up against the wall to mask the weakness that struck his knees under her gaze.

"Goodbye Rick," she murmured, wishing beyond reason that this would not be the last time she would say those words. Yet somehow, considering the situation she had seen him in and her own uncertainty with one of the men at her table, she could not reasonably address that issue further.

"Goodbye Michonne."

She nodded and returned to her table. Rick followed slowly after, his mind bombarded with endless possibilities.

For the rest of the night both Rick and Michonne only tacitly listened to their companions. Luckily for Rick, his date's babysitter called and she informed him that they would have to cut their date short.

"We'll definitely have to do this again," his date insisted as he gently maneuvered her into a taxi.

"Of course," Rick muttered. "Have a good night!"

He watched gratefully as the cab sped off.

"Sir, will you need a taxi?" The valet asked curiously and Rick shook his head, pulling out a ticket.

"No, I drove."

"Very good, I'll bring that around in a minute for you sir."

He watched the young man sprint off towards the parking lot and sighed. He hated valeting his car, but it was literally the only way to get into the restaurant after a certain time and he had already been late when he arrived.

"Michonne, you should come with us!"

Rick stepped out of the way as Michonne and her companion exited the restaurant. She was laughing once again, instantly arousing him.

"I'll be fine, you go ahead," Michonne insisted, not noticing Rick standing off to the corner.

"You sure?" Her companion asked, somewhat possessively holding on to her and she nodded.

"I'm sure. I'll see you later, Mike," she assured them, maneuvering out of his grasp.

There was brief hesitation before the man moved off down the sidewalk towards another bar. Michonne watched him leave, pulling out her phone as she looked around the area.

"Oh hello," she whispered and he could not help the grin that came to his face as she approached slowly. "Date ended?"

He nodded. "Yeah… what about you?"

She caught his gesture towards the man who had just left her and she shrugged, glancing back down at her phone. "I'm looking for a more quiet night than he had in mind…" The valet pulled up with Rick's car and once again they found themselves at a crossroads.

Gazing at each other, the possibilities of the night unfolded instantly, if only they took the chance.

"Rick, your date-"

"It was just a date," Rick assured, already reading Michonne's mind. "I don't want to complicate things for you, though…"

Michonne snorted and checked her phone again. "Yeah…" As if recalling something amusing, she laughed and Rick stepped towards her, drawing her attention. The desire in his eyes was undeniable and she grew hot. "It's always complicated, isn't it."

"Sir, your car," the oblivious valet interrupted, drawing them momentarily out of their revere. Rick glanced over at the young man, clearly annoyed, and hesitated. He was not ready to leave Michonne. He was not ready to give up this night.

"I… um…" His heart racing, skin flushed, he came to a decision. Squaring his shoulders, he fixed Michonne with a startling determined look. "There's a café around the corner… would you like to grab a cup of coffee?"

Her head tilted a bit and she smiled. "Why?" she inquired, somewhat teasingly.

The seriousness in his eyes made her heart skip a beat. The world stopped.

"I'm hoping I can make you laugh…"